Federal Equipment Requirements

T

Tom Little

New member
Our yet to be delivered TomCat 255 has an Armstrong outboard bracket across the stern which increases the overall length to about 28 feet. The federal equipment requirements change for boats over 26 feet.

Do outboard brackets count in boat length for federal requirements?

Does the Coast Guard, when inspecting, measure the length or take the manufacturers length as sufficient?

Do TC 255 owners have "Oil Discharge" and "Waste Discharge" placards mounted? If so where?

Do you carry a copy of the Inland Navigation Rules aboard?
 
Tom, The length of a vessel, as far as what equipment is required, is the length that is on the registration or documentation papers. This is what the CG will go by in a safety check.

So if the papers show less than 26 ft you don't need the placards.
 
Having just sold our large trawler to a Coast Guard Auxillary Squadron commander, I am very sensitive to regulations. Thanks for your response because it relieves my gearing up
 
The Tom Cat is a bit of a problem. The boat is stated to be a 25'6" boat in the builders certificate. However for documentation measurement the boat is 27'6" long. The Armstrong bracket does provide floatation, and thus the CG considers it part of the hull. If you have the boat state registered, then you can get away for the less than 26 foot boat. I have never heard of a Coast Guard vessel measuring a boat when boarding it. I think that would be very unlikely.

My insurance company measusres the boat at 29 feet, and it is over 37 feet on the trailer....

But does it really make a difference? You want the additional safety gear aboard, plus. The GC safety gear is a bare minimum.

I do carry a copy of the Navigation rules, although there are not required on a vessel less than 39 feet. My waste discharge decal is under the sink on the foreward door. The no discharge oil is on the bottom of the seat where you are putting your batteries. I still have a copy of my garbage plan I had on large vessels and that is in my manuals binder.
 
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