Just read that the USCG will be "checking" boats to see if they are built to specs, and have been maintained regularily. If a boat is over 25 years old, they will require a regular dockside check (no fee...at least yet) that has been compared to a building code of sorts. Anyone else worried about this? What kind of issues do y'all believe they will be looking at?
Super Cub
2011-04-07 04:27:12
I think there is an overview of the new regs on the AMSEA site, or try a search for AMSEA threads here. If I remember right, the dockside inspections will be required for all boats every 2 years to ensure compliance with safety requirements. There are new educational requirements (drill conductor training for skipper of all commercial boats plus rumors of a navigation skills education requirement), new record-keeping requirements for safety training and equipment testing, etc.
I recently took the drill conductor class (currently offered for free based on a federal grant), and it was very worthwhile. I had never before had the opportunity to use some of my safety gear; this class allowed us to shoot flares, actually deploy life rafts on the water and then jump in wearing immersion suits and climb into raft, etc. Even if it weren't required, I would still reccommend the class.
That all sounds great...and even kind of fun. I am a little more worried about hull inspections, etc. The Oregon fleet is full of older wooden boats. Will spots of rot on my gunnels prevent me from being able to fish? Like my grandpa keeps telling me..the good old days are gone.
Super Cub
2011-04-08 01:25:00
I could be wrong, but I didn't see anything in the article AMSEA posted about hull inspections on older boats less than 50' in length, and they weren't mentioned in the class I took. From my understanding, the bulk of the dockside inspection is safety equipment related (proving that liferafts and immersion suits have been inspected, current flares, EPIRB tested, warning plackards, etc.). I'm sure the CG will look at other things (for instance, on my gasoline-powered boat, I had to make sure to buy the new alcohol resistant fuel lines), but I can't imagine that they will go over every inch of an old wooden boat for rot. Heck, half the boats at my moorage in Newport would probably sink if you cut the shorepower (I hear bilge pumps running constantly from the same wooden trollers). :lol:
bonkngaff
2011-04-10 00:11:18
I also took the drill conducter class, much worth the 2 days i spent there. It seemed the regulations are coming for sure. I want to say after 2014 they are really going to start hammering boats over fifty foot and their skippers. As far as some of the stuff, they are way overboard! How many thousands of dollars of flares are wasted every few years, not to mention the rafts that get repacked every year and dont need it.