The Coast Guard and U.S. Power Squadrons expect to complete more than 200,000 voluntary vessel safety checks this year, and BoatUS will sponsor the program for the next three years.
"A vessel safety check is done as a courtesy and with no risk to the boater - you won't be in trouble if discrepancies are found," BoatUS Foundation assistant director of boating safety Ted Sensenbrenner said in a statement.
"What it will do is point out, in a very friendly manner, where you can improve your boat's safety and help educate you on the value of recreational boating safety," he added. "Simply put, having a vessel safety check done on your boat at the beginning of the boating season will help prevent bad things from happening and ensures that if something does occur, you're prepared."
If you are ever stopped by law enforcement, the vessel safety check program can also help prevent citations by ensuring that your boat meets federal, state and local safety equipment requirements, such as the proper display of registration numbers and documentation.
Click here to find a Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron vessel safety check examiner.
