HONOLULU
SAIL AND POWER SQUADRON
A unit of the United States Power Squadrons
Copyright 2008 Honolulu Sail & Power Squadron
SAFETY
Boat Smart From The Start with a free
Vessel Safety Check
To schedule a vessel safety check please call 255-3373.
or
Sign up for a Vessel Safety Class to learn how to become a boat Inspector for the
Honolulu Sail & Power Squadron.
Please call Charlie Bell @ 528-3633 or 255-3373 for more information.
A Vessel Safety Check is a free check of your boat's safety equipment for compliance with federal, state and local requirements. Some of the items checked are:
• Proper Display of Numbers
• Registration/Documentation
• Life Jackets
• Visual Distress Signals (flares)
• Fire Extinguishers
• Ventilation (blower)
• Backfire Flame Control
• Sound Producing Devices (horn, bell)
• Navigation Lights
• State & Local Requirements
• Overall Vessel Condition
During the Vessel Safety Check, you can talk with the vessel examiner about the use of marine safety
equipment, get information on various federal, state, and local regulations, review local boating conditions, and ask boating-related safety questions. The vessel examiner will encourage you to take advanced boating courses and will tell you about the USPS® boater education program. Some of the topics you can discuss
with the vessel examiner include:
• Accident Reporting
• Charts and Aids
• Survival Tips
• Fueling/Fuel Management
• Float Plans
• Weather and Sea Conditions
• Safe Boating Classes
You will receive an evaluation form showing missing equipment and safety problems. Your copy is also a "shopping list." Show it to the cashier at BOAT/US or West Marine stores and get a discount on safety-related items.
Boats that meet safety requirements will be awarded the
2008 VSC sticker to display on their port side.
Busy U.S. Coast Guard patrols save time and effort by looking for VSC stickers while doing routine safety stops. If they spot one on your boat, they'll know you are very
likely to be in compliance with the regulations they enforce, and will look elsewhere.
If your boat is at a marina, you can get a Vessel Safety Check from roving USPS® vessel examiners, or you can make an appointment for a time convenient to you. Just ask your marina or yacht club office or your local USPS® squadron to find a vessel examiner for you.