Is your boat Coast Guard ready for the 1999 boating season? By Chief Tom Rau, Coast Guard Group Grand Haven, Mi It’s better we ask you now on shore rather than later on the water- is your boat Coast Guard ready for the 1999 season? This Boat Smart column is the first in a three-part series aimed at helping western Michigan boaters meet federal boating requirements. You certainly will want to read on, especially, if you failed a Coast Guard safety inspection last season. Last season Coast Guard (CG) boarding officials boarded and inspected 1,666 recreational boats in CG Group Grand Haven’s area of responsibility which extends nearly the full length of Lake Michigan’s eastern shore from Leland Harbor to Michigan City. Again this season CG Group Grand Haven boarding officers will pursue a vigorous boarding campaign of recreational boats. Based on last year’s boardings, here are some suggestions that will help boaters meet federal safety requirements for recreational boats but more importantly assure them a safe boating season. Visual Distress Signals: Boarding officers discovered that many boaters carried an appropriate number of visual distress signals (three), but the flares often exceeded their three-year useful life. Pyrotechnic visual distress signals must be Coast Guard approved, in serviceable condition, and marked with an expiration date. It’s okay to carry expired flares as long there are three current CG approved flares aboard. What’s more, all vessels operating on Lake Michigan at night must carry pyrotechnic visual distress signals, or a CG approved electric light that automatically flashes the international SOS distress signal. Again, make sure the flares (three) have not exceeded their three year useful life. Ventilation: All boats which use gasoline for propulsion are required to be equipped with a ventilation system. All boats built on or after August 1, 1980 must meet Coast BT499 Guard Ventilation Standards. That is, a power ventilation system is required for each compartment in a boat that has a permanently installed gasoline engine with a cranking motor for remote starting. Boarding officers discovered proper ventilation systems in place but in some cases exhaust openings were obstructed, ducts blocked or torn, and blowers not operating properly. Just because you can hear your blower it doesn’t necessarily mean it’ s discharging gas fumes overboard; vibrations can work duct hoses loose and separate them from fittings. Placing a hand over an exhaust duct will quickly reveal whether a blower is discharging. Life jackets: Boarding officers are pleased to report that most boaters carried CG approved life jackets for the number of people aboard, that they were in serviceable condition, and of appropriate size for the user. The bad news is that many boaters failed to carry a Type Four Personal Flotation Device (PFD), commonly known as a throwable device. Any boat 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must carry one Coast Guard approved Type Four throwable PFD. Sound Producing Devices: Often even a whistle would do but to often boarding officers discovered operators lacking any means of attracting attention. Regulations state that any vessel less that 12 meters (39 feet) in length may carry a whistle or horn, or some other means to make an efficient sound signal during periods of reduced visibility. Boaters should occasionally test their boat horn. It’s better to have you discover a horn malfunction than a boarding officer. A whistle provides an effective low cost backup horn. Registration: Many recreational boaters carried a current registration sticker on their boat hull but failed to have the original registration papers aboard. This can really slow down a vessel inspection because the boarding officer must call in on the radio to confirm ownership. On a busy boating day, this can take time. Remember, the law requires, as with automobiles, that you must carry aboard a current registration- copies won’t do. Summary: These are common discrepancies that often appear during boarding. Others are improper navigation lights, expired fire extinguishers and jammed hull numbers. To guarantee you are Coast Guard squared away I recommend you obtain the Federal Requirements and safety Tips for Recreational Boats pamphlet. This excellent user friendly, all you need to know hand-size brochure is your ticket to passing a Coast Guard boarding. Better yet it’s a sure ticket to a safe boating season. You can obtain one at your local Coast Guard Station or call the CG Boating Safety Infoline at 800-368-5647 (Alexander Virginia) to have one mailed. Boat Smart- get one. Group Grand Haven | USCG Office of Boating Safety Forecast | Radar | Water Temps | Auxiliary | CMEs |
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