Safety check

B

bridma

New member
I was stopped on the water yesterday by the Search & Rescue boat. They asked if I had any objection to being boarded (I could have said yes) so they could carry out a safety check?
They went through a check list of safety gear required onboard. To the best of my memory it went as follows:

Anchor & rode
Spare anchor
Navigation lights
Radar reflector
Waterproof flashlight
Bilge pump (auto or manual)
Bailer
Bucket
Charts
Boarding ladder
50' throw line
Life ring with 50' line attached
Lifejackets
PCOC card
Flares
Oars

I passed on everything except my flares which were 9 months out of date. They also commended me on having a radar reflector on the roof for such a small boat, most boats evidently get a 'fail' over the radar reflector. They issued me with a pass slip, subject to getting new flares. If I get stopped in the future, all I have to do is produce the pass slip and flares. Then a neat surprise, they gave me a small safety package gift for participating in their 'stop & board check up'.

Martin.
 
bridma":134c0rm4 said:
I was stopped on the water yesterday by the Search & Rescue boat. They asked if I had any objection to being boarded (I could have said yes) so they could carry out a safety check?
They went through a check list of safety gear required onboard. To the best of my memory it went as follows:

Anchor & rode
Spare anchor
Navigation lights
Radar reflector
Waterproof flashlight
Bilge pump (auto or manual)
Bailer
Bucket
Charts
Boarding ladder
50' throw line
Life ring with 50' line attached
Lifejackets
PCOC card
Flares
Oars

I passed on everything except my flares which were 9 months out of date. They also commended me on having a radar reflector on the roof for such a small boat, most boats evidently get a 'fail' over the radar reflector. They issued me with a pass slip, subject to getting new flares. If I get stopped in the future, all I have to do is produce the pass slip and flares. Then a neat surprise, they gave me a small safety package gift for participating in their 'stop & board check up'.

Martin.
Click to expand...

Thanks Martin for the check list. I have it all except Oars.
 
These are the rules from Transport Canada: 19 to 26 foot boat.

1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

OR

3. One (1) lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

4. *One (1) reboarding device 4. One (1) manual propelling device

OR

One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination

5. One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump
6. One (1) watertight flashlight

7. Six (6) flares of Type A, B or C

8. One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance

9. **Navigation lights

10. ***One (1) magnetic compass

11. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3) 12. One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a motor

13. One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance

These are a bit different than what is required in the USA. 16 to 26 foot boat:


1. State Registration
A Certificate of Number or State Registration must be on board while the boat is in use.

2. State Numbering and Letters
Must be in contrasting color to the boat, not less than 3 inches in height, and located on each side of the forward part of the boat. It must also have a state decal within six inches of the registration number.
OR Certificate of Documentation
For documented vessels only, an original and current certifcate must be on board. The vessel name must be on the exterior part of the hull and cannot be less than 4 inches in height. The official number, at least 3 inches in height, permanently affixed on interior structure.
3. Personal Floatation Device
One type of Coast Guard approved life jacket must be on board for each person on the boat. Also must have one Type V, throwable type of PFD.
4. Visual Distress Signal
One orange distress flag and one electric distress light, or three hand-held or floating orange smoke signals and one electric distress light, or three combination (day/night) red flares: hand-held, meteor or parachute type.
5. Fire Extinguisher
One Marine Type USCG B-I fire extinguisher if your boat has an inboard engine, enclosed compartments where fuel or flammable and combustible materials are store, closed living spaces, or permanently installed fuel tanks.
6. Ventilation
If your boat was built after April 25, 1940 and uses gasoline in an enclosed engine or fuel tank compartment, it must have natural ventilation. If it was built after July 31, 1980 it must have an exhaust blower.
7. Sound Producing Device
A sufficient way to make a sound signal, like a whistle or an air horn, but not a human produced noise.
8. Navigation Lights
Required to be displayed sunset to sunrise.
9. Backfire Flame Arrestor
Required on gasoline engine boats manufactured after April 25, 1940 except outboard motors.
10. Marine Sanitation Device
If you have an installed toilet, you must have an operable MSD, Type I, II, or III.

There are some things missing from the US list which are on the Canadian list which are very good items to have aboard. We had a discussion in 2007 about the life sling--which apparently at that time was not accepted in Canada. The oar, the re-boarding device, anchor, compass, etc are all devices which we all should have aboard.
 
BrentB":2wbwy107 said:
Did they ask about a fire extinguisher ?
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Yes Brent. Couple of things I forgot to mention. They also asked for fire extinguisher and fog horn. They did not however ask me for my radio operators card.

Martin.
 
I haven't bumped into anyone in Canadian waters yet, but I have to say that when USCG wanted to inspect and board my boat they were some of the nicest LE I've met on the water. I think I was starting to annoy them with my questions about the CG.
 
Thanks Martin. Good report. I've not been boarded but always have a copy of Transport Canada small vessel regulations aboard, to show them. Some inspectors are ill informed of their own rules. They can get a little self important and miss the point.
You're not required to have 2 anchors although it's the right thing to do. The radar reflector is not required according to their rules. The wording is quite clear that it's up to the operator to decide if it's needed for the safety of the vessel. They also say if the vessel is too small to fit one practically, you're exempt. They also say the minimum recommended height is 13' 6" !!!! Some tall arch. What? They also need us to carry a paddle. Come on paddle a 22. Try it. I use them to get to the beach at Powell. I have 'em though. Kinda silly
Good to have a reflector though. I've heard from a couple people that we return a good blip. No reflector aboard. I think it's the BBQ that's seen, lots of angles on it
The ring life buoy is an "or" to the 50ft heaving line with float. A life ring is impractical on a small boat. Where do you stow it? So it's ready to go but out of the way for the 99.999% of the time when you don't have someone overboard. I asked one CG guy once in my store about their love affair with the things I would hate to have one launched at me. Ouch. Knock you out if hit. The life sling is way better as is the float on a rope
We find here they tend to stop the go fasts and a lot of them miss many items. Got the booze ok though. As you say expired or wrong number of flares is the major miss. Good to be up on all the required things then add in some extras. I like more flares than minimum and more radios. We don't have to have a radio but what a great safety item. George :thup
 
Had the safety check boarding by the RCMP recently. I was lucky with the (2) fire extinguishers (one for motor and one for stove) as they were still current. In Canada they have to be inspected unnually. It was about 4:30 pm and the officer told me I was the first compliant boat that day. Most missed items were flares and extinguishers.

One annoying thing is the 6 flares requirement. Mostly they are sold in 4 packs.

Nice guys!
 
In the for what it's worth dept. I wanted a paddle to get my 22 into the beach stern first and found one at West Marine that telescopes from 20.5" to 48" and fits in the lazzerett. (sp)

Bill Kelleher
 
You are right George. Some of those items I reckoned I did not need. But as I looked over his shoulder at the check off list and saw that everything he was likely to ask me, I had, I just went along with it and pointed it out or produced it. Had it been the police, and if they were about to ticket me, I would have challenged it. But then again I was "guilty yer honour" on the out of date flares.

Martin.
 
Good check list. Thanks martin and Dr Bob for posting them.

On Reboarding device -- a does it have to be a ladder? Swimstep count, or a plan --Ride the OB up as it is power tilted?

Spare Anchor -- Any size requirements? Would a small, folding grapnel count? It works for the inflatable :wink:

Magnetic Compass -- Does the KVH 1000 Digital compass count? or a single hand bearing compass count if it is the only magnetic aboard?

I could see how some of this could fall into the realm of gray, depending on the interpreter's point of view, among other things.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I would think that the spare anchor should have a reasonable chance of holding whatever size boat it is on in order for it to count as a spare.

I would also think that you would be required to have a sufficient amount of line on board to act as a spare anchor rode. If you need a spare anchor because your rode broke at the windlass, not having a spare rode will render the spare anchor useless.

However, as far as I can tell neither the Canadian or US requirements specify that you must have a SPARE anchor. The US requirements do not actually say that you must have an anchor at all, just that it is strongly recommended.

http://www.uscgboating.org/fedreqs/default.html
 
ssobol":353tdxx6 said:
I would think that the spare anchor should have a reasonable chance of holding whatever size boat it is on in order for it to count as a spare.

I would also think that you would be required to have a sufficient amount of line on board to act as a spare anchor rode. If you need a spare anchor because your rode broke at the windlass, not having a spare rode will render the spare anchor useless.

However, as far as I can tell neither the Canadian or US requirements specify that you must have a SPARE anchor. The US requirements do not actually say that you must have an anchor at all, just that it is strongly recommended.

http://www.uscgboating.org/fedreqs/default.html
Click to expand...

Right. Good thoughts on the anchor.

Nor do they say you have to have a VHF radio :shock:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
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