Vessel Safety Checklist

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 three (3) inches  high, and in a color contrasting with the background. A space or hyphen must separate the letters from the numbers. Place State validation sticker according to State policy. (e.g. FL 1234 AH or FL-4234-AB) 

Registration or Documentation papers must be on board and available. Documentation numbers must be permanently 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.  

Acceptable PFDs (as known as Life Jackets) must be U.S. Coast Guard approved and in good,  serviceable condition. A wearable PFD of suitable size is required for each  person on the boat. Children must have properly fitted PFDs designed for  children. Wearable PFDs shall be “readily accessible” 

Boats/rowboats 16  feet or longer, (except canoes and kayaks) must have one Type IV  (throwable) device, which shall 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.  

Recreational boats 16 feet and over used on coast waters of Great Lakes are required to carry a minimum of either 1) three day and three night pyrotechnic devices., 2) one day non pyrotechnic device (flag) and one night non-pyrotechnic device (auto SOS light) or 3) a combination of 1) and 2). 

Recreational boats less than 16 feet  on coastal waters or the Great Lakes need only carry night visual distress signals when operating from sunset to sunrise. It is recommended, but not required, that boats operating on inland waters  should have some means of signaling a suitable day and night distress signal.  The number and type of signals is best judged by considering conditions under which the boat will be operating.  

Fire extinguishers are required if one of  the following conditions exist: 1) Inboard engine(s); 2) Double bottom hulls not completely sealed or not completely filled with floatation materials; 3) Closed living space; 4) Closed stowage compartments that contain flammable materials; or 5) 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 (2-5) listed above applies. NOTE: Fire extinguishers must be readily accessible and verified as serviceable.  

Boats with gasoline engines in closed compartments, built after 1 August 1980 must have a powered ventilation system. Those built prior to that date must have neutral or powered ventilation. Boats with closed fuel tank compartments 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. 

All gasoline powered inboard/outboard or inboard motor boats must be equipped with an approved backfire flame control device.  

To comply with Navigation Rules and for distress signaling purposes all boats must carry a sound producing device (whistle, horn, siren, etc.) capable of a 4-second blast audible for ½ mile. 

 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 anchor light capable of being lit independently from the red/green/white “running lights. 

Boats 26 feet and over with a machinery compartment must display an oily waste “pollution” placard. 

Boats 26 feet and over in length, operating in U.S. navigable waters, must display a “MARPOL” trash placard. Oceangoing boats 40 feet and over must also have a written trash disposal plan  available. 

Any installed toilet must be a Coast Guard approved device. Overboard discharge outlets must be capable of being sealed. 

Boats 39.4 feet and over must have on board a current copy of Navigation Rules. An electronic version of the Navigation Rules is acceptable. 

These requirements must be met before the “Vessel Safety Check” decal can be awarded. A boat  must meet the requirements of the state in which it is being examined.

• Deck free of hazards and clean bilge
• Electrical Systems
• Fuel Systems
• Galley and Heating Systems
• Engine Cutoff Switch (ECOS)

The boat must be free from fire hazards, 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. The engine horsepower must not exceed that shown  on the capacity plate.  

The electrical system must be protected by fuses  or manual circuit breakers. Switches and fuse panels must be protected from rain or water spray. Wiring must be in good condition, properly installed and with no exposed areas or deteriorated insulation. Batteries must be secured and the positive terminal (some states require both) covered to prevent accidental arching. Boats with outboard engine(s) are exempt from this  requirement.  

 Portable fuel tanks (normally 7 gallon capacity or less) must be constructed of non-breakable material and 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.  

 System and fuel tanks must be properly secured with no flammable materials nearby. 

Required on all vessels <26 feet  manufactured after 12/2019; must produce lanyard during VSC. All PWCs  require self-circling or kill switch mechanisms. If installed, a self-circling or kill  switch mechanism must be in proper working order.