Sirius Signal gives you the opportunity to submit any questions you have about boating or paddlecraft safety
Commodore Vin Pica of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Answers Your Boating Questions
Fill out the form below to email your question to Commodore Vin Pica, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and CEO of AuxA.
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Answered Questions:
What regular maintenance do you recommend for offshore boats to stay safe at sea?
Starting off the season with a Vessel Safety Check is the best what to get started, offshore or otherwise. You can find Vessel Examiners near you with this link - https://wow.uscgaux.info/i_want_a_vsc/index.php Of course, government standards are really government...
What training would you recommend for new boaters? And do you recommend in-person classes?
COVID aside, nothing beats in-person training. You can use this link to find classes near you - http://cgaux.org/boatinged/class_finder/ Of course, infection rates in your area may still be sufficiently worrisome that online classes may be better. That same link can...
My daughter’s cub scout den is learning about water safety. Do you have any recommendations for resources to share with the kids specifically about boating?
There are a lot of coloring-book-based educational materials for children available through the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. Reach out to your local US Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla or email us here with information we can use to connect you with the local unit. We’ll...
When is an appropriate time to call for help from the Coast Guard? We don’t want to tie up resources unnecessarily.
The short answer is when you feel threatened by conditions at hand and forecasted to continue to deteriorate. That isn’t necessarily a “may-day” situation, when you definitely will be needing the Coast Guard to get underway. How do you communicate a sense of impending...
I’m overwhelmed by the amount of information on life jackets. What should a 130-pound woman wear when sailing or kayaking in the Chesapeake?
The easy answer is a USCG-approved life-jacket that you’re comfortable in – so you’ll wear it. But let’s apply some science. First, 80% of a person’s weight is water, which has no weight in the water, and about 15% is fat, which is lighter than water. Consequently, by...
Aside from Coast Guard required safety equipment, is there anything you consider a “must have” on your own boat?
Everyone should be aware that government regulations in most forms do not set a ceiling – they set a floor. So, “must have’s” in my mind are, first, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). While I used to say that I never went on a boat without a light and a knife on my...
According to the Visual Signaling guidelines I can find, eVDSDs seem to still be only acceptable for night use, and do not qualify as acceptable for daytime use. Can you advise where USCG has updated that? At the current time, are there eVSDs that are SOLAS compliant?
Bob, you are correct, eVDSDs are only approved as a night visual distress signal, that is why in the package for both of the Sirius Signal products, the one color C-1003 and the two color C-1002, we include a Daytime Orange Distress flag that is USCG Approved as a...
I purchased the C1003 device. What is the recommended way to display the unit if I need to send a distress signal? Hold/mount the device in my boat? Or attach a line to the device and float it on the water. Thanks.
Thanks for your question James. This is Steve Caldero from Sirius Signal. It seems like your question would be best answered by us — rather than the Commodore. How you would display the C-1003 depends a lot on your situation. Displaying the light at the highest...
What lights to I need to display in my small 17-foot inflatable boat?
Well, as with many things, it depends! If she has an engine, then she needs the lights that any motorized boat needs – red/green for port/starboard illumination and, for convenience, an all-around light that functions as both a stern and mast light. Being that you...
If my boat does not use a motor — meaning no gasoline — do I meet Federal requirements? Do I need to bring a fire extinguisher along?
The short answer is, no engine? No fire extinguisher. But even that is not 100% complete (see #5 below.) U.S. Coast Guard-approved, marine-type fire extinguishers are required on boats where a fire hazard could be expected from the engines or fuel system. Fire...
I tried to register the Sirius C-1003 distress light but the registration card was not included in the package. What Should I Do?
A serial number is no longer required to register the C-1003!
I have an SOS-A-1001 device that is not working (fails to flash when turned on). I have put in fresh batteries. Any other suggestions?
If the batteries did not correct the problem, please send it back for a warranty repair to Sirius Signal. We can service the unit! Joe Gallo Sirius Signal 1084 N El Camino Real Suite B-200 Encinitas, CA 92024
What safety gear should I have on my boat that the USCG recommends?
Short answer? Life jackets and flares! Beyond some ministerial items, the first two items that a USCGAux Vessel Examiner is required to check for are just that — life jackets and flares. Other required items are fire extinguishers, navigation lights, and a...