Flotilla 12-8 is proud to participate in the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Vessel Safety Check program.  This program helps keep you and your passengers safe, and the waters in the Greater Charleston area a safe place to boat.  When you choose to have your boat inspected for safety, you are doing your part of being a responsible boater.

This program is voluntary, free and confidential.  The results are not reported to any law enforcement or insurance agencies.  You cannot receive any citations from Auxiliary Vessel Examiners.  The program is to assist you in determining if your boat meets federal and state safety equipment requirements. Vessels that pass our safety check are awarded a Vessel Safety Check decal which is good for the calendar year.

A Vessel Examiner is an Auxiliarist who has been specially trained to check your boat for safety equipment.  The items that are checked include:

• Vessel registration numbering
• Registration/documentation papers
• Life jackets
• Visual distress signals
• Fire extinguishers
• Ventilation
• Backfire flame arrestor
• Sound producing devices
• Battery cover and connection

Note that these same items are required by state and federal laws and, if missing or non-operating, can result in a citation if your vessel is inspected by the Coast Guard or other law enforcement agencies.  The Vessel Safety Check offered here gives you a risk-free way to check that you meet the legal minimums.

Now, did you notice something missing in the above list?  Neither federal nor state regulations requires an anchor, although our safety check does.  That's right, we check on safety equipment above and beyond that required otherwise, all in the sake of safety for you and your fellow boaters.  We feel that time spent discussing this and other items on our list help in what we call "Preventive Maintenance" of our "customers'" boats.  Statistics show that vessels that have passed our safety check are less likely to be involved in Search and Rescue (SAR) missions.  Don't you think you'd like to have your boat checked?

How Do I Get My Boat Examined?

Contact our Vessel Safety Check Officer for a free vessel exam.  Or, if you're not in located the greater Charleston, SC area, click on the flashing light at the top of this page to enter your Zip Code and find a vessel examiner in your area.

In the meantime, if you would like to conduct your own safety review of your boat or get more details about the items on the checklist, you might want to visit the Coast Guard Auxiliary's "Virtual Vessel Safety Check" site.  

For general information, the main reasons for vessels not passing a VSC are Visual Distress Signals (12.2%) State and/or Local Regulations (10.4%) and Navigation Lights (8.5%).  Be sure and check your safety equipment regularly.