Inspected Passenger Vessels?

Is your SOS eStrobe CG approved in lieu of hand red flares on inspected passenger vessels? If so what is the CFR citation indicating equivalency when paired with a distress flag? Answer: Our eVDSD electronic flares are not US Coast Guard approved for carriage on inspected passenger vessels YET (as of March 9, 2023).

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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 minimums – you can always do more. More flares, extra radios, more life-jackets, EPIRB for the boat […]

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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 help you find such classes. Commodore Vin Pica BTW, if you are interested in being […]

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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 get you squared away. Commodore Vin Pica BTW, if you are […]

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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 disaster? Just say it. You: “this is the motor vessel ‘Charlie’ […]

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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 subtracting the weight of the body’s water […]

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