Coast Guard Inspection – get your sticker

PMC

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2009
1,453
Long Island, NY
Boat Info
2001 40 Sedan Bridge
Engines
Cummins 6CTA
It is a $1,000.00 fine to if you are found with a safety violation, and the CG is in full force inspecting all vessels. Inspections have started this weekend. Not having a 2009 sticker is a clear indication to check you first.

There was a pre-inspection program going on at my Marina – and boy and I glad I participated. I was out of date on flairs (only last 1 year) and the marina had them in stock.
That same day (yesterday) we anchored along the shore line, when the Coast Guard came by – boat to boat – saw my new 2009 sticker and moved on. The boat anchored a few down from me was not so fortunate. The CG boarded, and performed a safety inspection.

If you don’t have one – get it.:thumbsup:
 
Is the Coast Guard suppose to give you a sticker when they do the inspection? I was boarded last month and they told me if I was stopped again to show them the paper work they filled out.
 
Unfortunately the sticker is not a cure all. We were in Chicago a couple weeks ago, and had the coasties board the boat. When they pulled up, I pointed out my safety sticker that I had gotten earlier this year. Their reply was "That's the coast guard auxillary, and doesn't mean a thing."...

+1; although the coast guard who stopped us were not as eloquent when they referenced the auxillary.
 
Is the Coast Guard suppose to give you a sticker when they do the inspection? I was boarded last month and they told me if I was stopped again to show them the paper work they filled out.

As I recall haveing been stopped by the USCG (at the Cape May Training Center) the piece of paper is only good for 30 days.
 
I have done 100's of inspections. The USCG Auxiliary will do them for free. It is the best deal in town. If you fail inspection get what you need and get reinspected , there is no down side. If you pass the Auxiliary inspection you should have no problem with any law inforcement inspection. Keep the signed paper you get from the Auxiliary and use it as a check list for next years commissioning.
 
Paul, where did you hear abt $1000 fines? That sounds really excessive for a simple safety violation alone. I know a guy in a runabout who was stopped and didn't have a sound producing device - he got a ticket for $50. Unless the gubmint stepped up the fines to raise money??
 
conduct your own
The sticker is supposedly a pass. If they are doing random boardings and pull-overs, you're more likely to be overlooked if you have the sticker. The only thing that can change from year to year is your flares which can expire. Other than that, you should be ready each year as long as your horn & running lights work, your flame arrestors are clean (if you got 'em), you've renewed all your paperwork (registration, documetation) and have current flares.
 
Paul, where did you hear abt $1000 fines? That sounds really excessive for a simple safety violation alone. I know a guy in a runabout who was stopped and didn't have a sound producing device - he got a ticket for $50. Unless the gubmint stepped up the fines to raise money??

It hearsay. You know the way rumors get started...The word around the Marina is that times are tough and everybody is getting creative with revenue. How long ago was the runabout fine? I'm curious if this is something only to NY/ LI.


Why not just conduct your own VSC BEFORE asking anyone else to do it for you?:huh: and BEFORE you get boarded.

Here is the form that the axillary uses:

http://forms.cgaux.org/archive/a7012.pdf

Yup - that's the form the Aux. CG used. The thing is, I want the sticker as well. It helps where I boat.

The sticker is supposedly a pass. If they are doing random boardings and pull-overs, you're more likely to be overlooked if you have the sticker.

There were 15 boats lined up - CG was putting by boat by boat - sticker, sticker, sticker- ohh no sticker and boarded. I'm not saying its a get out of jail free card, but if it gives me an edge over the guy next to me without - then I want one.
 
I thing the CG auxiliary inspection is a little lightweight on what they require to pass... but that's just me... If you fail that... shame on you... if you pass... you still need more. The signaling requirements are a joke IMO. One is not even required to have flares on a boat... but you do need a pollution placard!!! go figure.
 
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Been boarded twice. Never saw the guys looking for any sticker. They were just randomly boarding boats in Puget Sound. The last time I was boarded, a Coastie Sikorsky did a fly over, circled over me, then kept going south. Sure enough, I came out of Colvos Passage and there they were, finishing up with another boat. Made a bee-line for me with the blue light flashing. Both times were during the off-season with little to no other boats on the water. All really nice guys.
 
The only thing that can change from year to year is your flares which can expire. Other than that, you should be ready each year as long as your horn & running lights work, your flame arrestors are clean (if you got 'em), you've renewed all your paperwork (registration, documetation) and have current flares.
Check the fire extinguishers as well. Mine were only 2 years old and one of them was showing in the red even though it was never used. Fortunately I had another that was good. Heres a link to get one done. http://www.safetyseal.net/
 
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I got pulled over for a safety check by the local marine patrol on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. He started asking for this and that, and I kept pulling them out. Feeling good, like I had it all covered, he then asked if I had a ships bell. I said, "this is a 26' boat, why would I have a ships bell, those are for 40's and up? Besides I have a horn and multiple whistles." He said, "Well son, here in NH we require them on 26's. We don't follow the CG rules, we have our own".

Nice. Jerk fined me $50 and gave me a service ticket to report when my boat was fixed. Needless to say, I haven't been back there since.

When I got back home, I looked it up, sure enough NH has their own requirement on this.
 
CT. also has the bell rule for over 26'. My old boat was 26'1" carried the bell in the box for 9 years.
 
:huh:
I got pulled over for a safety check by the local marine patrol on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. He started asking for this and that, and I kept pulling them out. Feeling good, like I had it all covered, he then asked if I had a ships bell. I said, "this is a 26' boat, why would I have a ships bell, those are for 40's and up? Besides I have a horn and multiple whistles." He said, "Well son, here in NH we require them on 26's. We don't follow the CG rules, we have our own".

Nice. Jerk fined me $50 and gave me a service ticket to report when my boat was fixed. Needless to say, I haven't been back there since.

When I got back home, I looked it up, sure enough NH has their own requirement on this.
:huh:"LIVE FREE OR DIE"....SAYS IT ALL:smt043
 
Fines vary. I know of no recreational boater equipment safety violation fine that is $1,000.



Pyrotechnic signaling devices (including aerial flares and hand held signals) expire 42 months after the date of manufacture in accordance with the Coast Guard requirements.

Check the expiration dates on your flares.

exp_date.gif


Source: http://www.orionsignals.com/Marine/QandP/replacement.html
 
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