| Display of Numbers |
The boat's registration number
must be permanently attached to each side of the forward
half of the boat. Characters must be plain, vertical,
block style, not less than 3 inches high, and in a color
contrasting with the hull color. A space or hyphen must
separate the letters from the numbers. Place State validation
decal according to State policy. (e.g. MS 2345 NN or ME-2345-NN)
|
| Registration Documentation |
Registration or Documentation
papers must be on board and available. Documentation numbers
must be marked on a visible part of the interior structure.
The documented boat's name and hailing port must be displayed
on the exterior hull in letters not less than 4 inches
in height. |
| PFDs - Personal Flotation
Devices |
Acceptable PFDs must be U.S.
Coast Guard approved and in good, serviceable condition.
A wearable PFD of suitable size is required for each person
on board. Children must have properly fitted PFDs designed
for children. Wearable PFDs must be "readily accessible."
Boats, 16 feet or longer, must have one Type IV (throwable)
device which must be "immediately available."
PFDs shall not be stored in unopened plastic packaging.
For Personal Watercraft riders, the PFD must be worn.
AN impact rating is recommended, but not required. |
| VDS - Visual Distress
Signals. |
Recreational boats, 16 feet
and longer on coastal waters or the Great Lakes are required
to carry a minimum of either:
a. Three day and three night red pyrotechnic devices,
b. One day non-pyrotechnic device (flag) and one night
non-pyrotechnic device(auto-SOS light), or
c. A combination of a. and b.
Recreational boats, less than 16 feet, on coastal waters
or the Great Lakes need only carry night VDS when operating
from sunset to sunrise.
It is recommended, but not required, that boats operating
on inland waters should have some means of making a suitable
day and night distress signal. The number and type of
signals is best judged by considering conditions under
which the boat is operating. |
| Fire Extinguishers |
Fire extinguishers are required
if one of the following conditions exist:
a. Inboard Engine(s)
b. Double bottom hulls not completely
sealed or not completely filled with floatation materials;
c. Closed stowage compartments that
contain flammable materials;
d. Closed living space; or
e. Permanently installed fuel tanks.
Recreational boats less than 26 feet,
and propelled by outboard motors are not required to
have fire extinguishers unless one or more of the conditions
(b. thru e.) listed above applies. Fires extinguishers
must be readily accessible and verified as serviceable.
CAUTION: The ordinary
fire extinguisher lasts only 10 to 14 seconds. Is that
sufficient to put out your next fire? Always carry extra
extinguishers aboard your boat.
|
| Ventilation |
Boats with gasoline engines
located in closed compartments, built after August 1,
1980, must have a powered ventilation system.
Boats built prior to that date must have natural or powered
ventilation.
Boats with closed fuel tank compartments
that were built after 1 August, 1978, must meet requirements
by displaying a "certificate of compliance."
Boats built before that date must have
either natural or powered ventilation in the fuel tank
compartment.
|
| Backfire Flame Arrester |
All gasoline powered inboard/outboard
or inboard motor boats must be equipped with an approved
backfire flame control device. This device must be Coast
Guard approved and must be clean and tightly mounted on
the carburetor. |
| Sound Producing Devices
- Horns and Bells |
To comply with the Navigation
Rules and for distress signaling purposes, all boats must
carry a sound producing device (whistle, siren, horn,
etc.) capable of a four second blast audible for one-half
a mile.
Boats larger than 39.4 feet are also required to have
a bell per the Navigation Rules.
|
| Navigation
Lights |
All boats must
be able to display navigation lights between sunset and
sunrise and in conditions of reduced visibility.
Boats 16 feet or more in length must have properly installed,
working navigation lights and an all-around white anchor
light capable of being lit independently from the red/green
/white running lights. |
| Pollution Placard |
Boats 26 feet in length and
longer with a machinery component must display an oily
waste "pollution" placard. |
| MARPOL Trash
Placard |
Boats 26 feet
in length and longer, operating in the U.S. navigable
waters, must display a "MARPOL" trash placard.
Ocean-going boats, 40 feet and over, must also have a
written trash disposal plan aboard. |
| MSD - Marine Sanitation
Device |
Any installed toilet (head)
must be a Coast Guard approved device. Overboard discharge
outlets must be capable of being sealed. |
| Navigation Rules |
Boats 39.4 feet and longer
must have a current copy of the Navigation Rules (Rules
of the Road) aboard. |
| State and Local Requirements |
These requirements must be
met before the VSC decal can be awarded. A boat must meet
the requirements for the state in which it is being examined. |
| Overall Boat Condition |
As it applies to your vessel,
including, but not limited to:
a. Deck free of hazards and a clean bilge
The boat must be free from fire hazards, be in good overall
condition, with bilges reasonably clean and visible hull
structure generally sound.
The use of automobile parts on boat
engines is not acceptable and, at the least, extremely
dangerous.
The engine horsepower must
not exceed that shown on the capacity plate.
b. Electrical and Fuel Systems
The electrical system must be protected by fuses or
manual reset circuit breakers.
Switches and fuse panels must be protected
from rain and water spray.
Wiring must be in good condition, properly
installed and with no exposed areas or deteriorated
insulation.
Batteries must be secured and terminals
covered to prevent accidental arcing.
If installed, self-circling or kill
switch systems must be in proper working order.
All PWCs require a self-cycling or kill switch mechanism.
Portable fuel tanks--normally 7 gallon capacity or less--must
be constructed of non-breakable material and be free
of corrosion and leaks. All vents must be capable of
being closed. The tank must be secured and have a vapor-tight,
leak-proof cap.
Each permanent fuel tank must be properly vented.
c. Galley and Heating Systems. System
and fuel tanks must be properly secured with no flammable
materials nearby.
|
| Marine Radio |
A VHF radio is an invaluable
safety tool. Channel 16 is the Emergency Channel for broadcasting
Mayday, Pan, or Security messages. In this area, Channel
19 is the meeting channel. Cell phones are very popular
but you loose the capability of communicating with vessel
nearby who could be the difference between life and death
when an emergency arises.
|
| De-watering
Device or Backup |
Prudent boat
owners have an automatic bilge pump installed at the forward
and aft sections of their boat. The Auxiliary also suggests
that you have a bucket or some other device for de-watering
your boat if the power fails. |
| Mounted Fire
Extinguishers |
The Auxiliary
suggests that your fire extinguishers be mounted in a
readily available location on your boat. Prudent boat
operators mount extinguishers in the operating area as
well as on either side of a galley stove. |
| First Aid
Kit |
You are the doctor
on your boat until you can get professional assistance.
Take a First Aid Course so you are ready if an emergency
occurs and keep your first aid kit equipped. |
| Capacity /
Certificate of Compliance |
FOverloading is
a serious problem. The weight limit on your capacity plate
has to include the weight of your engine and its accessories,
generators, gasoline, water, food, beverages, and equipment.
The capacity plate assumes an average weight of 150 lbs
when quoting "persons on board." |
