USCG Vessel Safety Checks

[hughesdave123]

Speaking of fire extinguishers, has anyone installed fire ports in the engine hatch? They allow for dispersal of suppression material into the engine compartment without opening the hatch and thereby introducing oxygen.

Also, has anyone installed a Fireboy-type automatic suppression system in the engine compartment?

I have a congenital fear of fire on boats. I have seen a few burn and it is horrendous.

The ones you have seen , were they Diesel engines? All fires I have seen were from dumb stuff on Gas boats.

1: grill set up by the fuel fill = fire
2: someone decided to put the gas pump into a rod holder in the gunnel , pumped gas strait into the bilge , bilge pump kicked on and BOOM. this was on the 4th of July last year in Solomon's island . I was about 100 yards from it when it happened.

 

[hughesdave123]

As a USCG Auxiliary vessel safety check officer I require that at least one of the throwables have a line attached. So does the Snohomish county Sheriff's Marine Division. It is needed to retrieve the person to the boat. Keep the line on the Life Sling, that is why it is there.

Robert Porterfield FSO-PV Flotilla 130-01-08 Everett, Washington
Skipper of Buoy Navigator R-29CB

I just looked up the regulation which states the following

For use on larger boats as an extra device to aid persons who have fallen overboard. May be used with a lanyard, "man-overboard" pole, locator light, or smoke signal.

From this it doesn't sound like a requirement to be attached to rope rather an option.

Here is the USCG link for Throwable.
http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/ringlb.asp

don't get me wrong , I think a rope is a good idea in case you miss , you can recast it if the person doesn't know how to swim to the damn float. but if they cant swim why don't they have a freeking life vest on in the first place.

I have 3 throwables on my boat ( more for seats in the cockpit) but I have 2 trys at least before I tie the rope to the last one . and that person isn't welcomed back on my boat again since they cant swim their lazy asses to a throwable , cause I know I would get it at least in their general vicinity with 2 trys.

 

[hughesdave123]

Here is a copy of the form that is used for the USCG safety check. note that items listed in on the RIGHT side of the form are not requirements to pass and get yo sticker on.

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

As for navigation rules I showed him my USCG mobile App from the iTunes store which was acceptable.
here's the link, however this requirement is only for boats 39.4 feet and larger.
http://www.uscg.mil/mobile/