Glossary
Vessel safety check
A free, voluntary check of your boat's safety equipment by a trained volunteer. No citation is issued if it fails.
A vessel safety check, or VSC, is a free, voluntary inspection of your recreational boat by a trained volunteer examiner, usually from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or the U.S. Power Squadrons. The Coast Guard Auxiliary (opens in a new tab) says a check takes about 15 to 30 minutes, can be done at your boat or even in your driveway, and is 100% free.
What happens:
- the examiner checks that the safety equipment required by state and federal rules is on board and in good condition, such as life jackets, throwable devices and sound signals (U.S. Coast Guard (opens in a new tab));
- they may make recommendations and talk through safety issues;
- if your boat passes, you get a decal for the year;
- if it doesn't pass, no citation is issued; you get a written report on what to fix.
The decal doesn't exempt you from a law enforcement boarding, but it shows officers the boat was examined and found compliant. You can request a check through the Auxiliary's examiner finder, which looks for volunteers near your ZIP code. See the boating safety checklist and boating safety courses in New York.
What you can do today: request a free vessel safety check before your next boating season.