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Originally posted by Kamper
I don't believe this is the proper channel to obtain this service (pun not intended). Various groups do offer VSC and anounce it in the papers and forums like this but if you don't want to wait I think you should just call NHMP and ask if you can bring your boat in for a safety check.
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Actually I believe this forum is exactly the proper place to ask this question, I know there are USCGAux and USPS members that post here and the VSC that those organizations perform is exactly what I am looking for.
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If you have any serious doubts about your boat I would suggest trailerring it to the inspection so you don't get cited for in-adequacies after pulling away from the dock. NHMP officers sometimes circulate at public docks and offer safety checks there.
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I do not have any serious doubts about the safety of my boat. I DO want another pair of trained eyes looking at systems in my boat that, if they fail, would create serious problems. I have seen how the NHMP Auxiliary performs their inspections and I am looking for something more detailed. I know how to count life jackets.
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A few people have claimed these officers call in deficiencies to patrol boats off-shore and the affected skippers then get cited. I have no idea if this really happens. I would just avoid the risk.
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As a person who at one time was qualified to do these types of checks I can tell you that USCGAux regulations at the time required us to stop doing the checks if a law enforcement agent showed up. That's because the entire nature of these checks is to inform the boater of any problem and not to penalize them for it. This is an important trust between the USPS/USCGAux and the public.
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Hope this helps. Good luck!
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I hope what I wrote helps.
This forum is exactly the place to find out where you can have this kind of check and it is the type of check that I want. I want someone else sticking his or her head into my engine and giving me another assessment of fuel lines etc etc that is confidential.
I am more interested in getting an independant (of me and my marina) assessment of the key safety components of my boat than I am of getting a VSC decal!
I will be back up at the lake in mid-Aug and I will check the web first but if there are no scheduled VSCs then I will hail Ken or Misty Blue Thanks Out