Before towing the boat up to Mackinaw City for our vacation, we figured it wouldn't hurt to have a vessel safety check. So we went to the Vessel Safety Check (VSC) web site to locate an examiner. We sent an email and a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary called us at home. Ralph North came out to our house and checked our boat for free. We offered to pay him for his time but he wouldn't accept.

Now SI has her 2008 VSC sticker. Nice.

yea the wildlife stop me once and ask if I had a auxillary sounding device.

which I did anyway, but I said yea , I have a wife.... will that work....he laughed and said so do I....

let me go...

Got a 6" chrome plated brass bell from eBay and it will be mounted in the galley. Thanks for the info.

I am a retired wildlife officer which specialized in marine enforcement and commercial vessel inspections etc.
In my 30 year career I had many dealings with the USCG Aux. For the most part 95 percent do a great job of promoting recreational boating safety. Remember these deticated folks are NOT ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS! They are not empowered to stop vessels or inspect vessels underway. They may ONLY ask if you would like a VSC or you may request one.

Federal regulations/and state regulations often are less/or more restricted. Federal regulations for enforcement purposes only apply on Federally regulated waters. Coastal, Great Lakes, Rivers etc. Inland lakes are for the most part strictly under State and local control.

The requirement for a Bell under Federal Regulations is seperated from a sound producing device. (Horn or Whisle)
Power driven vessels are required by Federal/State regulations to have on board a horn, or mouth operated sounding device(whisle) Whisling, yelling while often effective does NOT meet the sound device requirements.

Here is a link which details the REQUIREMENTS to obtain a VSC. Go through the check list is excellent and includes the other recommended safety equipment which is NOT required for a VSC.

http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/vsc.htm
Safe Boating
Dave


The Bell: The bell is used generally while on anchor in the fog etc. Its use is very limited and very outdated.

Modern automatic fog horns have replaced the bell in most situations.

Now the VSC: This inspection includes items NOT required by law but recommended safety items. (Ex: Bailing bucket)

A VSC DOES NOT... EXEMPT YOU FROM INSPECTION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT! I have had that thrown in my face more than once!

A VSC is only indication that your vessel was considered in compliance on the day of inspection.

Hi,

Ralph was following the basic inspection guideline. (recommendations portions of VSC) I would guess that Ralph has not had a lot of experience with larger vessels.

Federal Regulations:
Capacity plates are only required on mono hulled vessels less than 20Ft. Sailboats and PWC are exempt.

Now Commercial and Passenger inspected vessels (Vessels for hire which carry more than 6 persons) require USCG inspection and the Coast Guard will then license the vessel for a maximum passenger capacity etc.

The only advisory I have ever found on a M is on the bridge which usually recommends max of three persons on the bridge. (28,29's and I believe 32's)

Here is an Excerp from CFR 33 Dealing with capacity of vessels.
FEDERAL LAW

183.31 - Applicability
This subpart applies to monohull boats less than 20 feet in length except sailboats, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable boats.


For the purpose of this subpart, a monohull is defined as: a boat on which the line of intersection of the water surface and the boat at any operating draft forms a single closed curve or "footprint." A pontoon boat is not a monohull, but a catamaran would be if the top of the "tunnel" between the two hulls touches the water aft when in a static position and loaded with water, fuel and passengers. The footprint, in this case, will be a continuous line.

A canoe or kayak or similar watercraft is defined as: a watercraft designed to be manually propelled or equipped with a low horsepower motor whose ends do not have a transverse dimension greater than 45% of the maximum beam and whose length to beam ratio is as specified below:

Length Length/Beam Ratio
14 Feet or Less 3:1 to 5:1
Over 14 Feet to 16 Feet 4:1 to 6:1
Over 16 Feet 5:1 to 8:1

An inflatable boat is defined as: any craft that achieves and maintains its intended shape and buoyancy through the medium of inflation. This includes RIBs.

A sailboat is defined as: a boat designed or intended to use sails as the primary means of propulsion.

Discussion:
"This regulation applies only to monohull boats of less than 20 feet, the size range where the Coast Guard has found the largest number of accidents."


safe boating,
dave

Anyone in the northern Chesapeake Bay area want a VSC? I'm now USCG Aux vessel safety check qualified.

Jeff