Flotilla 12 will hold a Ramp Day on Saturday, May 25th at the Fort in St. Marks where we will provide free vessel safety checks. These safety checks are a way to assess if a boat is seaworthy and ensures that the necessary boating safety equipment are accessible and in working order.
In the Auxiliary, a mantra of our organization is that “boating safety is every person’s responsibility,” and the boating community is no exception. Boat operators are responsible for the safety of their occupants on board and safe navigation.
In vessel examinations, Auxiliary examiners ensure that boat operators possess, at minimum, one life jacket for every member on board. It is important to note that children 13 years and younger must wear a life jacket at all times while on a vessel. Further, it is essential that all vessels 16 feet or longer carry signal flares. It is important that the expiration date has not passed. Air horns and whistles are mandatory for signaling purposes. Boat owners/operators should be in possession of boat registration documents while on board. Finally, it is very important that all vessels have FL/GA Registration numbers on the side of the boat. A fire extinguisher is a required safety feature. Requirements depend on the size and type of vessel you own.
In reference to sea worthiness, it is important to ensure that your boat has fully functioning navigation lights. You may not plan to operate you boat at night, but you never know when or how quickly fog conditions may develop. It is also important to start your engine prior to launching your vessel. Nothing is more challenging than a boat with no power or control, floating in the middle of a channel or body of water.
The above information is a just a sample of what takes place when a boat Vessel Inspection is conducted. Additional information can be obtained by contacting US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Florida Fish and Wildlife, or accessing the web. There numerous publications regarding boating safety and regulations.
Remember, as a Coast Guard Operations Training Officer once told me, when on the water, “We don’t have to go out, but we have to come back.” Smooth Sailing and Safe Boating!


Thanks to Sherrie, we will always remember safe boating is no accident! Pre-planning before even making it to the water’s edge can help you have a great day on the water.

If you would like to learn more about vessel safety checks, please contact Steve Hults, Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations at steve.hults@uscgaux.net.

Please contact us for more information about our safe boating classes or learning more about getting involved in the Auxiliary, check out our website at www.uscgaux.net follow us on FaceBook @ Apalachee Bay Flotilla 12 or contact our Flotilla Commander Phil Hill at pnkkhill2000@yahoo.com.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information, please visit www.cgaux.org.