Safety Checklist
Are you prepared for a Mayday? Swap out expired and unusable items.
T
he first time my husband, Scott, and I took out our new
boat was a nerve-wracking ordeal. We were book smart
but lacking in experience. We had taken several classes through
the U.S. Power Squadrons, had a Vessel Safety Check, were in
compliance with Coast Guard (USCG) regulations, and Scott,
a retired USMC Colonel, was anal about the fine print. If one
extra life jacket was acceptable, then two were better. He applied
that to lines, anchors and sunscreen. Despite all that planning,
we were boarded by two different Coast Guard boats during the
day and we were flagged down twice by the same boat in distress.
Scott was obligated to jump a battery over the gunwales
and saltwater, with relatively short jumper cables and
drifting boats. In my mind, the act had the makings of a
disaster: Touching the wrong terminal with the cables,
starting a fire, getting shocked or burned, or even falling
overboard. As first mate, I had the VHF radio and the
first aid kit ready, and like a good writer, I documented the
event with photographs. Fortunately, Scott was unscathed.
Rather than a leisurely day on the water, we came home
for a long nap and Tylenol.
The items on our boat were new and unexpired. The
lines were pristine. Our cartridge-type life jackets worked
perfectly, and our fire extinguisher was new. However, that
was during our first season. After that, my job included
inspecting items for their condition and expiration after
the winter storage and replacing them if needed.Replacement checklist
Casual conversations with other boaters led us to believe
that expiration dates were of little concern until the need
arose or a crisis began. However, our first experience
on our boat demonstrated the importance of having
functional items at all times. Consider this checklist
before getting on the water.
■ Get a free Vessel Safety Check from a USPS group
(USPS.ORG) or a CG Auxiliary (CGAUX.ORG) with localknowledge of the area. Then, stock your boat with the
necessary equipment.
■ Check boat item’s workability. Lines vary in material and are
used for different things. If they fray, tear or break, the lines
should be re-braided or replaced. Examine the anchor rode
for wear and stow extra lines of varied lengths on-board.
■ Before buying items, check expiration dates. If the date is a
year or less away, don’t buy it. Most items should have
at least three or more years before disposal, otherwise
you’re wasting money and jeopardizing safety.
■ Invest in a portable, low-cost battery tester. Use batteries
if 75 percent charged or higher. Also, battery-operated
items can lose their charge in cold temperatures. Portable
items, like VHF radios, should be taken off the boat, and
the boat’s batteries should be checked for a proper charge.
■Life jackets should be in exemplary shape, not faded, torn
or flat. They should have perfect clips and straps.
If they’re of the inflatable variety, they should have
working CO cartridges.
■ Refill your watertight first aid kit and throw out
expired items.
■ Is your fire extinguisher a single-use or rechargeable one?
Discard ones that are clogged, partially discharged, have a
broken/rickety handle, are unsealed or missing a locking pin,
or have a broken or torn hose/nozzle. Call the sanitation
department for disposal instructions. Some Kidde fire
extinguishers were recalled in 2017. Read the label to see
if your model was affected, and check for expiration dates.
■ Chemical or electronic flares should be checked for
expirations and new batteries. Are they stored properly
with a daytime visible flag and whistles? Expired
flares may work but aren’t guaranteed, so keep these
separate and stored in a watertight container. Use
non-expired flares first.
■ Carbon monoxide units have a shelf life of five years.
Before installing, write the expiration date on the side
of the unit with a permanent marker.
■ Keep an itemized journal of Coast Guard mandatory and
suggested items, their location on-board, manufacturer’s
websites and phone numbers, the expiration dates and
condition.
■ Just like swapping out the batteries in your home smoke
detector, pick an obvious date like January 1 to swap
out batteries and check expiration dates.
It’s prudent to be prepared for most contingencies
while boating. No one wants to experience a Mayday, but
having the mandatory items on-board in their best working
condition provides everyone on-board a safety net in case
that call comes. ★HELEN AITKEN is a boating
writer, photographer and
science educator from
eastern North Carolina.
She loves classic wooden
boats, is a U.S. Power
Squadron member and
plays in the Intracoastal
Waterway. Visit her website
at HELENAITKEN.COM. FIRE EXTINGUISHER PHOTO COURTESY OF COAST GUARD NEWS; LINE PHOTO BY PEXTEX; KIT PHOTO COURTESY OF WISCONSIN DNR(Top right) It’s important
to check the expiration
date on your fi re
extinguishers. (Top)
Inspect lines for any frays
or breaks. (Above) Stock
your boat with necessary
safety items, including
fl ares and life jackets.SAFETY FIRST
BY HELEN AITKEN MAY 2018 | LAKELANDBOATING.COMSafety_MAY18.indd 36 3/28/18 10:16 AM