New boater question

[Smile_n_Jax]

Ok, I have looked on the Coast Guard site, the Boats & Waterways site, I have Googled. For the life of me I'll be damned if I can find a list of the required safety equipment I have to have on my boat. I've got a pretty good idea of what's needed, but I don't want to get caught up in an inspection with my drawers down. I've ordered 4 vests, 2 adult sizes and 2 youth. Gonna be taking the Grandsons out. The 12 year old's chomp'n at the bit to go fish'n. I'm sure the fire extinguisher needs recharge or replacement. Just wanna make sure I've got all the necessary gear before I go out. Just wait'n for C&C to call tell'n me the motors installed and ready to go. Damn, I wanna get on the water.

BTW, I'm gonna be a regular on Berryessa for a while. I'm renting dry space at Steele Park. Can't park a boat where I live, mobile home park, and their storage areas are full up. Someone has to die before you can get in. And there's no storage space available around town. Nearest I could find was in Woodland for $60 a month with limited access. What with the free pass and launch I get parking it at Steele Park I figure it's worth it not having to tow the boat back and forth and I figure on fish'n couple times a week.

Kinda worried about security, but I'll chain up the wheels and put a tag on the cover saying "Beware of Snakes". That should keep the honest people honest.

Anyway, enough blather. Cya'll on the water at Lake B.

Hmmm, now I just gotta learn how to fish.

[mark poulson]

I don't know the Coast Guard site info, but you'll need a throwable floatation device with a rope (I'm not sure how long), in an easily accessible location, and some kind of audio signaling device, like a horn or whistle. If you buy the Sospender/type life vests, remember that the Coast Guard doesn't consider them a life preserver unless they are being worn. So if you get inspected, if you're not wearing the sospenders, you'll get a ticket unless you have conventional life vests onboard also, one for each person onboard.

[Smile_n_Jax]

Wow, good thing to know, Mark. I'm working on getting a set of sospenders, so I'll make sure to have a "proper" vest onboard.

[rmd]

you need to have a life jacket for each person on the boat and need to have a horn or whistle and a throw cushion with 100 feet of rope attached ,plus a paddle and fire extenguisher i hope this helps,remember kids need to have their life jacket on when your big motor is running

[BigBossMan]

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Pubs/Abc/index.asp

Learn this booklet and you won't have any problems...Have a life jacket for everyone on board...Children under 12 years of age must wear a life jacket at all times (motor running or not)...A throwable must be immediately accessible (100' rope is optional)...Adult life jackets must be readily accessible...A working fire extinguisher...A sounding device/Horn that works

[Paul W]

One thing I messed up on was buying the wrong type of flares. I got pulled over on the water this last Memorial Day for blowing a no wake zone (stupid mistake). Anyway, the cop did a safety check while writing me up and approved all my equipment but didnt like my flares, which are for the road.....not on-water use. He said he didnt really even know what the difference between the 2 kinds were, but said the Coast Guard would probably fine me for having the wrong kind on board.

Paul W

[Smile_n_Jax]

Thanx guys for the quick replys. Bigbossman, I will follow that link you gave me. I'm well aware of the rule on vests, and my rule is, if you're on my boat, you will wear a vest. I'm not about to get into a pissing contest about when and when not to wear one. On my boat, wear a vest. If you don/t like my rules, get off my boat.

[mac (Doyle McEwen)]

Also the throwable life preserver may be optional depending on the length of your boat, however it is a good idea to have one no matter what length your boat is..I do not believe flares are a requirement, but are also not a bad idea..A signaling device, which might include the flares is required..Please notice how I said might..On the ocean the flares may be required..Most boaters either carry a horn or a whistle for their signaling device..I know signaling flares are used on most ocean going vessles..You also are required to have running lights..These may either be removable or permanently mounted..

mac

[Ken C.]

If you contact your local Coast Guard Auxilary, they will perform a courtesy inspection for free. They fill out a checklist and if you have passed the inspection they give you a sticker for your boat that should you have a CG, Sheriff, etc. pull up to you they will enerally forgo the formal inspection!

[ash]

Another item that is not listed on the ABC but that the ancillary and CG are inspecting for and that is a man over flag. I have heard of sevral boaters being warned about this item.

I dont know where you live but most places that sale boats have a copy of the ABC's. I have two of the current copies one in the boat and one in my truck.

Regards,

Jonathan

[BigBossMan]

If you are towing a skier and they go down...You need an orange flag to warn passing boaters there is a skier in the water...And, regardless if you have a sticker showing a prior safety inspection...If you get stopped They're going to inspect for the required equipment aboard your boat.

[Ken C.]

I guess I should have said that if you have a current year inspection sticker and the authorities are just "motoring by" as I have seen them do while talking to you they will likely not bother you. However if you did (or are doing) something that they are actually targeting you to "have a chat" with then yes they are going to look and check everything regardless of the sticker.

My point was that if you have one of these courtesy inspections done you will be more at ease with having everything on board that you should have.

Also, DON'T FORGET YOUR STATE MANDATED CO WARNING STICKERS!

BTW - Some inflatable PFD's do have Class III ratings meaning they don't have to be worn to be counted. Check the label on the particular PFD you are considering.

[Jeff Jewell]

Jax,
Looks like you got the info your looking for, As for fishing Lake Berryessa, for the grandkids you might want to try for the spotted bass in the narrows, they run small but are easy and fun to catch. Another thing the kids will love is catching some of those huge carp, just float a piece of bread when you see the carp and you should hook up. When the kids aren't there, head up north to find some nice large and smallmouths.

[Big Rick KFOG]

USCG Aux does some great work. I have taken classes at Yerba Buena and always found them to be very helpful.

Here's an online version of what their safety check is all about.

http://www.safetyseal.net/what_is_vsc.asp

Here's the form they use.

http://forms.cgaux.org/archive/a7012.pdf

Here's a bunch of stuff.

http://www.uscgboating.org/