A Vessel Safety Check (VSC) is a complimentary, 15-point inspection offered jointly by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and America’s Boating Club (United States Power Squadrons). The check verifies compliance with federal, state, and local safety standards.

VSCs are 100% voluntary and risk-free: if a vessel fails to meet any of the 15 criteria, no citations or reports are issued to law enforcement. Instead, the owner receives a detailed checklist indicating what needs correction. Vessels that pass receive a distinctive Vessel Safety Check decal displayed on the port-side windshield or window.

15-Point Inspection Checklist

Item 1: Display of Numbers

The examiner checks that the vessel’s state registration or federal documentation numbers are displayed properly:

• Numbers must be affixed to the forward half of the vessel (both port and starboard sides).
• Characters must be block style, at least 3 inches in height, and in a color that sharply contrasts with the hull background.
• Hyphens or spaces equal to the width of a letter (other than ‘I’) or number (other than ‘1’) must separate the alpha and numeric groupings (e.g., CF 1234 AB or FL-5678-CD).
• Validation decals must be current and placed within 3 inches of the registration number (as dictated by state law).

Item 2: Registration / Documentation

The original, current registration certificate or federal Coast Guard documentation document must be on board whenever the vessel is in operation.

• Photostat copies are generally non-compliant unless permitted by specific state guidelines.
• The examiner verifies that the Hull Identification Number (HIN) on the certificate matches the hull physical marking.

Item 3: Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs / Life Jackets)

The examiner inspects every life jacket on board to ensure full compliance with USCG regulations:

• Quantity: Must have at least one wearable USCG-approved PFD (Type I, II, III, or V) per person on board.
• Sizing: PFDs must be correctly sized for the intended wearer (child, youth, adult).
• Condition: Must be in serviceable condition—no rips, tears, rotted straps, broken buckles, or hardened foam. Inflatable PFDs must have active CO2 arming indicators in the green zone.
• Accessibility: Wearable life jackets must be readily accessible (not sealed in plastic bags or locked in storage lockers).
• Type IV Throwable Device: Vessels 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must carry at least one USCG-approved throwable device (ring buoy or square cushion) that is immediately available from the helm station.

Item 4: Visual Distress Signals (VDS)

Vessels operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, or territorial seas must carry USCG-approved visual distress signals for day and night use:

• Day Signals: Orange distress flags, pyrotechnic orange smoke flares (handheld or floating).
• Night Signals: Red handheld flares, aerial meteor/parachute flares, or non-pyrotechnic electric S-O-S distress lights.
• Expiration Date: Pyrotechnic flares are stamped with an expiration date 42 months from the date of manufacture. All flares presented during inspection must be unexpired.
• Quantity: Typically, a minimum of three approved day/night pyrotechnic signals (or a combination of non-pyrotechnic equivalents) must be on board.

Item 5: Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are evaluated based on vessel length, fuel system type, and age:

Vessel Length	Minimum Required (5-B / 10-B Rated)	Fixed System Credit
Under 26 ft	1 5-B (or 10-B) Marine Extinguisher	Exemption if fixed engine system installed
26 ft to < 40 ft	2 5-B (or 1 20-B) Marine Extinguishers	1 5-B required with fixed system
40 ft to 65 ft	3 5-B (or 1 20-B + 1 5-B) Marine Extinguishers	2 5-B (or 1 20-B) required with fixed system

• Labeling: Extinguishers must be clearly marked “Marine Type USCG Approved.”
• Pressure Gauge: The needle must point firmly in the green operable zone.
• Condition: No rust on the cylinder, nozzle free of obstructions, and security pin/seal intact.
• USCG Fire Extinguisher Rule: Disposable fire extinguishers manufactured after December 31, 2017, must be removed from service 12 years from the date of manufacture stamped on the bottom.

Item 6: Sound Producing Devices

Vessels must carry an efficient sound-producing device to signal intent and warn of danger in restricted visibility:

• Vessels under 39.4 feet (12 meters): Must carry a mouth whistle, athletic whistle, or power/hand-held compressed air horn capable of producing a 4-second blast audible for half a nautical mile.
• Vessels 39.4 feet to 65.6 feet (12 to 20 meters): Must carry a power horn or whistle audible for one-half nautical mile AND a fitted stainless steel or brass bell (bell requirement optional for vessels under 20 meters).

Item 7: Navigation Lights

The examiner verifies that navigation lights function correctly and match the vessel’s operational configuration:

• Sidelights: Red (port) and Green (starboard) lights displaying an unbroken arc of 112.5 degrees.
• Stern Light: White light visible across an arc of 135 degrees.
• All-Round / Masthead Light: White light visible 360 degrees (power-driven vessels under 39.4 feet may combine masthead and stern lights into a single all-round anchor light mounted higher than sidelights).
• Operation: Lenses must be clean, unpainted, undamaged, and wired to the helm switchboard without voltage drops.

Item 8: Pollution Placard

Vessels 26 feet and longer operating on complex or coastal waters must display a durable MARPOL Annex V Discharge of Oil Prohibited placard in the machinery space or near the bilge pump control switch.

Item 9: MARPOL Trash Placard

Vessels 26 feet and longer must display a visible MARPOL Trash Dumping Restriction placard explaining the federal rules regarding overboard disposal of plastics, garbage, and food waste.

Item 10: Backfire Flame Arrestor (BFA)

Gasoline engines installed on vessels after August 25, 1940 (except outboard motors) must be equipped with an approved Backfire Flame Arrestor:

• Inspection: The examiner inspects the carburetor air intake screen.
• Condition: Must be securely attached with a hose clamp/bracket, clean, and free of oil, dirt, or structural corrosion that would compromise flame dissipation.

Item 11: Ventilation System

Gasoline-powered vessels with enclosed engine or fuel tank spaces require specific ventilation to prevent explosive vapor accumulation:

• Natural Ventilation: Must feature at least two cowl vents with ducting—one intake duct extending from the cowl to the upper atmosphere, and one exhaust duct extending down to the lower third of the bilge to collect heavy gasoline vapors.
• Powered Ventilation (Blowers): Gasoline engines in enclosed spaces require powered exhaust blowers. The ducting must draw air directly from below the engine level.
• Blower Operation: The examiner verifies that the blower operates cleanly from the helm switch and that the ducting hose has no tears or sags.

Item 12: Fuel System

The examiner conducts a visual inspection of fuel lines, tanks, and fittings:

• Hoses: Fuel lines must be USCG Type A1 or A2 marine-rated hoses (no automotive fuel lines allowed).
• Leakage: No active drips, fuel odor, softening, cracking, or bulging along fuel lines.
• Tanks: Must be securely fastened to the hull framing, grounded electrically, and free of heavy corrosion or fuel weepage.

Item 13: Engine Electrical System

Electrical systems are inspected to eliminate potential ignition sources in the engine room:

• Battery Terminal Covers: The positive (+) terminal must be covered with an insulating boot or enclosed in a non-conductive battery box to prevent accidental short circuits from tools or loose hardware.
• Battery Securing: Batteries must be bolted down or secured with heavy-duty straps—they cannot move more than one inch in any direction.
• Wiring: Wiring must be marine-grade, properly fused/breaker-protected, supported by loom clamps every 18 inches, and free of wire nuts or bare twist connections.

Item 14: Galley and Heating Controls

For vessels equipped with permanently installed galley stoves or heating units:

• Fuel supplies (LPG/Propane or CNG) must be stored in vapor-tight, dedicated deck lockers vented outside the vessel.
• Propane lockers must feature a functional remote electric shutoff solenoid valve.
• Stoves must be securely mounted and fitted with flame-failure shutoff devices.

Item 15: Overall Vessel Condition / Bilge Area

The final inspection item assesses general seaworthiness and maintenance:

• Bilge Area: Must be free from excessive standing oil, fuel sheens, trash, or excessive water accumulation.
• Decks & Passageways: Must be clear of slip/trip hazards.
• Hulls & Through-Hulls: Seacocks and valves must move freely; emergency wooden plugs should be available near through-hull fittings below the waterline.

Scheduling a Free Safety Check

To schedule an inspection at your slip, ramp, or storage facility:

• USCG Auxiliary VSC Search: Visit cgaux.org/vsc to find a local examiner.
• America’s Boating Club: Visit americasboatingclub.org to request a vessel check.