Making sure that your boat meets all of the Coast Guard regulations is your responsibility. It’s important for your safety and the safety of the environment that your boat meets all of the USCG and State requirements. Failing to meet the minimum requirements puts your safety at risk and could lead to some hefty fines.
Most boaters will probably never have an on-the-water inspection. Usually, the Coast Guard, state, and local marine law enforcement are busy dealing with search and rescue or more vagrant violations such as speeding, reckless operation, boating while intoxicated, accidents, and fishing violations.
If you attract the attention of marine law enforcement or the Coast Guard, you can expect some level of inspection along with addressing the reason they stopped you. This is especially true if you’re involved in an accident. It’s best to be in compliance with regulations and be prepared for any inspections that may occur.
State & Local Marine Law Enforcement Inspections
In most states, State and Local Marine Law Enforcement must have probable cause to stop you. This can be a suspicion that you are leaking oil or fuel, overloaded, impaired, or violating speed, wake, or wildlife regulations. Usually, they are more interested in smaller boats than cruisers.
When stopped, a safety inspection is typically an informal affair. They will make sure that the boat is not overloaded and will ask to see the appropriate lifejackets for each person on board. They might look at the boat’s registration sticker and may ask to see the registration or Coast Guard documentation. If they are being especially thorough with you, they may also ask to see fire extinguishers and inspect navigation lights and sound-producing devices. In states with Sojourner rules (like South Carolina, and Florida), they might check your compliance with that as well.
Sojourner Permit: If you have a Federally (USCG) documented boat and not a home state registration, you may have to prove that you have been in the state less than 90 days in a 365-day period or that you have a Florida Sojourner Permit. For full details see the Sojourner Permit section at the end of this Waterway Guide Article.
In environmentally sensitive areas, they may come aboard to inspect that your black-water valves are closed and, in some areas, locked or disabled. They may also check that there is no oil in your bilge water. Vermont, Georgia, and Canada are known for these inspections.
A violation usually results in anything from a verbal warning to a citation. In extreme instances, they may ask you to follow them to the nearest dock for further dealings.
Coast Guard Inspections
The US Coast Guard (USCG) is another kettle of fish. They can generally stop you for a safety inspection at any time, with or without cause. The official US Coast Guard inspection is a more formal process typically conducted on commercial vessels rather than recreational boats. This comprehensive inspection focuses on compliance with federal laws concerning vessel documentation, safety equipment, pollution prevention, and overall seaworthiness.
While pleasure boats are not usually subject to these inspections, they might be boarded by USCG officers during patrols for on-the-water inspections. This official inspection can occur anywhere on the water when the USCG deems it necessary and can include checking for life jackets, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, and pollution control measures. If deficiencies are found, boaters might be given warnings or citations; serious issues could lead to legal penalties.
In reality, most Coast Guard stops are also the result of some other infraction, such as speeding, reckless operation, or an accident. The Coast Guard does, however, conduct random safety checks, especially in areas of heavy traffic.
First-Hand Experience
On our first trip to Florida, we were coming through Jacksonville, and we heard the Coast Guard on the radio scolding people for speeding through a Manatee zone. As we rounded the corner into the St. Johns River, we saw two Coast Guard patrol boats sitting side-by-side in the middle of the channel. As we got close, the blue lights came on, and they radioed us that they were pulling alongside and would be boarding. The call went something like “Blue hull trawler. This is the US Coast Guard. We will be boarding your vessel. Reduce to idle speed. Do you have any weapons on board?”
Very no-nonsense. The patrol boats pulled up on both sides of us, and four armed crew hopped over the rail. They were very nice but very thorough! They inspected all the safety equipment, fire extinguishers, flares, horn, and the expiration dates on the life jackets. They had me turn on and checked the nav and anchor lights. They reviewed the documentation and registration, including asking me to see my boater safety card. They checked the hull ID number and permanent USCG Registration number painted on the inside of the transom. They pulled up the floor and checked the black water valves to ensure the overboard pump valves were closed. They checked to see that the garbage and oil disposal placards were in place. They even had a person climb down into the engine room (with the engines running, we were still idling along) to check our engine room fire suppression system inspection date and ensure there was no oil or fuel in our bilge water.
They were on the boat for about 15 minutes, and we passed with flying colors. We received kudos for having a clean engine room and bilge and for having all the valves marked. (See, being OCD pays sometimes!)
They thanked us for our cooperation and gave us our “Yellow Inspection Report.” Having a USCG report lets you skip most inspections for a year, so it’s referred to as the “Golden Ticket.” The escort boats pulled up on either side, and they jumped off. Overall, the experience was excellent. During the inspection, we learned that most of the crew were newly out of the academy and that they were conducting training.
Here is a copy of our “Golden Ticket” inspection report. Look to see what they check.
US Coast Guard Auxiliary – Vessel Safety Check
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is a uniformed volunteer organization that supports the Coast Guard and promotes boating safety. It is an official branch of the Department of Homeland Security. While it does not have law enforcement powers, it does have official status. They conduct security patrols, search and rescue, education, environmental protection, disaster relief, and, in general, support the Coast Guard in its mission.
The US Coast Guard Auxiliary offers free courtesy safety inspections, commonly known as Vessel Safety Checks (VSCs). These checks are free, voluntary, and non-punitive and designed to help boaters ensure their boats meet federal and state safety requirements before heading out on the water. A courtesy inspection can be arranged by contacting the local Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla and scheduling a visit.
A trained and certified member will meet with the boat owner at a convenient time and location, often at a marina or launch ramp. During the Vessel Safety Check, the Auxiliary looks for compliance with safety standards, including checking for the presence and condition of mandatory equipment such as personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers, emergency flares, navigation lights, and proper display of registration numbers.
If any items don’t meet regulations during this courtesy inspection, the boat owner can correct them without penalty. Once the vessel passes the inspection, the boat owner receives a Vessel Safety Check decal to display, indicating that the boat met safety standards at the time of the inspection. This decal can be a reassuring signal to any law enforcement or Coast Guard personnel that the boat owner is committed to safety. It is not a Golden Ticket!
Customs and Border Protection Inspections
I’ll mention CBP because many Cruisers go in and out of the US to Canada or the Bahamas. Also, St. Augustine, FL, is the CBP Marine Division Training Center. If you pass through the area, you’ll likely see their high-performance boats zipping around.
Like the Coast Guard, CBP officers can stop and board your vessel anytime, with or without cause, and search it. Their primary reason for stopping is to conduct searches for contraband and verify the people on board’s right to enter or remain in the United States. If you are near the Canadian or Mexican border or are anywhere in Florida, you will see and potentially be stopped by CBP boats. While they do not normally conduct maritime safety enforcement activities, I have seen them stop boats around St. Augustine for speeding or violating no-wake zones.
US Military Enforcement
Pretty much the only time you will run afoul of the US Military is if you go somewhere that you shouldn’t! There are several Navy, Marine, and Army bases all along the Intracoastal Waterway. As you pass, you will see their “Picket Boats” out on patrol. In general, they will just leave you alone unless you get too close to whatever it is they are guarding or go by too fast and wake them!
While I’ve never experienced it, I’m assuming that their “Inspection” wouldn’t involve much checking of your life-jackets! Some areas where we’ve seen a military marine patrol presence are:
- Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia
- Camp Lejeune Marine Base in North Carolina
- Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal near Southport, North Carolina
- Kings Bay Submarine Base right on the Georgia—Florida line in Cumberland Sound
- The BAE Shipyard on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida
What Inspections Should I Get
The only voluntary inspection available is the Vessel Safety Check from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. If you go to any of the rendevous for the AGLCA or MTOA, they frequently coordinate having an inspection day during the event, so that’s a great opportunity. You can also get in touch with the local Coast Guard Auxiliary group in your area (Google it or check on https://www.cgaux.org/ ). It can be a good piece of mind, especially if you are new to cruising or are about to take a long trip.
Preparation, Courtesy, & Cooperation Go A Long Way
None of us like to be stopped and have our day interrupted, especially if we “know” we didn’t do anything wrong. Like a traffic stop in your car, being cooperative and courteous with authorities will go a long way toward making the encounter go quickly and smoothly. Arguing and giving the officers a hard time won’t change the situation and will just make it more stressful for both them and you.
The best way to avoid a long stop is to ensure that your boat meets all the necessary regulations in advance. Make it a habit to periodically do your own inspection. Keep your bilges clean. Label all of your valves. Check your fire extinguishers’ condition and expiration date. Make sure that your lifejackets are the correct type, that you have enough, and that they are not expired. Be sure to have your documentation (registration, insurance, boater safety, radio license) together in a safe place that is up to date. The more you show that you know what you are doing and are prepared, the less likely the inspecting officer will dig deeper.
Has Your boat had a recent Vessel Safety Check?
Have you ever been stopped on the water?
Let us know in the comments below! 
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