Free Safety Check Available for Boaters

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 | 09:00am

NASHVILLE --- Boating season is underway and the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency is among the agencies reminding boaters they could be safer with a free boat safety check. The United States Power Squadrons (USPS) and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (CGAUX) provide free boat/vessel safety checks (VSC) at launch ramps and marinas on Tennessee lakes and rivers.

The Vessel Safety Check is a free check of a vessel’s equipment for compliance with Tennessee and federal safety equipment requirements. The vessel examiners performing this service have been trained to look for some of the more common problems, which might occur in your boat or its associated safety equipment. Vessels meeting all of the Vessel Safety Check (VSC) requirements are awarded a VSC decal.

Some of the items checked are:

Proper display of registration numbers and decals
Registration/Documentation (must be on boat)
Personal Flotation Devices (Life Jackets)
Visual Distress Signals (Inland Rules … no equipment requirement)
Fire extinguishers
Ventilation of enclosed fuel storage compartments and engine compartments
Backfire flame control (inboard gasoline engines)
Sound producing devices (horn, whistle, bell)
Navigation lights
Tennessee state requirements document (will be provided by examiner)
Overall vessel condition

During the Vessel Safety Check, the vessel examiner will discuss the purpose and proper use of specific marine safety equipment, will clarify various Tennessee and federal regulations, will discuss certain safety procedures and practices, and will answer any boating related questions. Some of the topics discussed include: