Lake Norman Flotilla 26-01 of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary will conduct voluntary vessel safety checks next month. The free inspections will check for compliance with federal and state laws, as well as required equipment, including:

• Life Jackets
• Registration and numbering
• Navigation lights
• Ventilation
• Fire extinguishers
• Distress signals (flares, horn, etc.)
• Battery cover and connections

All of the above-listed items are required by state and federal laws and, if missing or broken, can result in a citation by the Coast Guard or local marine law enforcement units patrolling Lake Norman.

Safety inspectors will not issue citations, and the results of the safety check will not be reported to an enforcement agency. Boaters who pass the examination will receive a decal, according to Coast Guard officials. The decal is not a guarantee a boater will not be stopped or boarded; it is only certification that a boater has met the requirements at the time of the inspection.

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component of the United States Coast Guard.

For more than 60 years, tens-of-thousands of men and women of the Coast Guard Auxiliary have spent millions of volunteer hours helping the Coast Guard carry out its missions. For more information on America’s Volunteer Lifesavers, visit their website at: http://join.cgaux.org/

For Public Boating courses visit: http://www.cgauxlkn.com/

For Vessel Safety Information visit: http://www.safetyseal.net/

WANT AN INSPECTION?

The Coast Guard Auxiliary will conduct the voluntary vessel safety checks as follows:

• May 12, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in conjunction with Morningside Marina at Skipper’s Landing, 1152 Perth Road, Troutman. 704-508-4730. Click here for directions.
• May 19, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. in conjunction with Westport Marina, 7879 Water Oaks Dr., Denver. 704-483-5172. Click here for directions.