Boat Equipment Check List

Make sure you and your boat are safe and legitimate for boating season.  This is an imperative component in your boating safety plan.
 
We recommend you do this well before spring and summer are underway.  Each year as the official summer kick-off date - Memorial Day holiday weekend - gets underway, you will notice even more Alabama Marine Patrol presence to balance the large influx of additional boaters on Alabama waterways, important when considering that over a million registered boaters enjoy waterways throughout Alabama yearly.  Here on Lewis Smith Lake, we have marine patrol presence year round, but the fleet’s efforts towards routine patrol grow understandably during the peak boating season of summer months.  We are more than happy to see them here, and admire and respect all they do to help our community.  

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Alabama Marine Patrol, Photo File: Birmingham News

• #1 - FIRST AND FOREMOST - We believe it is always best to get information direct from the proper legal source about how to prepare yourself and your boat for a busy lake season.  ​Therefore, FIRST thing we recommend is that you please visit the website for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency "ALEA" – "Alabama Marine Patrol Division" (also listed in our quick links on our website’s home page). You will find a wealth of vital information on the site to help you and your boat operate safely and securely every boating season.
  
• Know the checklist for your state - Alabama.  Below we offer some basic boating equipment preparation advice, along with the recommended boating equipment items you should check annually as outlined in the ALEA checklist – but again, first, please check their official “Boat Equipment Checklist for Alabama” (also listed in our quick links on our website’s home page) as they need to be your prime source of such information.  

Photo: thepatchmancollection.com

• Towing Service - Get an annual membership with a legitimate and experienced towing service.  Contact our local TowBoatUS Captain, Terry Russeau, at 256-385-1966 to get signed up as soon as possible.  This service has been invaluable to us in the past, and you will find that it will give you secure peace of mind throughout the year.​​

TowBoatUS–Smith Lake, Photography: Scott Eric Day

• Operator License - Make sure everyone who might possibly captain the boat has proper boater education, experience and a legal Alabama boat operator license onboard at all times.  We also keep our registration documents and manufacturer booklets in a waterproof sealed bag stored in the boat.
  • Check out these sites for licensing education and information for testing:
    • Alabama Law Enforcement Department - Online Course
    • Alabama Department of Education - Boating Licensing
• Driver instruction - Just as important, and really it goes without saying, make sure that any new drivers in your crew have proper instruction driving on the lake with an experienced captain offering full assistance and a constant watchful eye.  Obviously, this is best done at a time when boat traffic is low, like on a weekday in a remote area of the lake.  Plan to work with your crew explaining everything about the boat, allow them adequate turns driving the boat and learning every scenario - experience is a must.  Slow and steady wins the race here - don't be too quick to throw a new driver into the seat during the busy summer weekends, that is NOT the time to learn.  Proper learning takes time and patience.
• Registration - The boat’s certificate of number must be easily accessible on board.

Photo: boat-ed.com

• ​Boat Decal - Validation decals must be properly displayed, highly visible, and easily identifiable from both sides of the boat for marine patrol.  If you are not sure where or how to apply these, contact ALEA prior to launching your boat to be sure you have mounted these properly (see diagram).
• Trailer - Check out your boat trailer carefully.  If you will be hauling your boat to several locations/launches, you need to check tires, spare tires, electrical connections, lighting, winches, jacks, trailer guides, carpeting and anything else on your trailer that assists in creating carefree safe travel and launching.  
• Pulling and launching a boat - If there are new drivers in your crew, take them out during the week to teach them how to drive with a trailer in tow, and how to back in and pull out a trailer.  Teach launching at a time (like during the week or early morning hours) and at a place where there is low traffic for the safety and comfort of everyone.  Move or end your training session if you begin to see traffic around you back up.  Learning to back in a boat trailer quickly and safely is vital to being a good boat owner because nothing is worse on a busy summer holiday weekend than a traffic jam at a boat launch.  You are expected to know the rhythm and get out of the way if you are hindering it.

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Photo: Bama Detailing

• Detail your vessel and organize it - Clean, detail, and organize your boat.  This is imperative, because in case of emergency, you do not want to be scrambling for safety equipment or tripping over items that are not in their proper place. This also allows you to see if there are issues developing on the boat (i.e. cracked interior upholstery, damaged trim on the boat exterior or interior entry areas, gelcoat fractures around towers or other mounts that could cause weaknesses, leaks or hazards, frayed or damaged wiring, etc.)  We highly recommend Bama Detailing - Winner of the BEST OF SMITH LAKE 2022 contest.  Call owner Eric Gurganus @ 205-300-8769.  After detailing has been done and inspected, put everything in its proper place carefully and take some time to educate your passengers where all safety equipment is located on the boat so anyone can help quickly in an emergency.  Make sure safety items are VERY EASY to find, grab and use.

• Boat and Tower Accessories – (i.e. audio equipment, LED lighting, boat racks, light bars, upgraded marine flooring, etc.)  Make sure these are proper for your boat, using manufacturer approved products and hardware, and make sure that all accessories are securely attached and operating correctly.  Realize that some audio and other digital equipment when used or installed incorrectly can cause very serious electrical and computer issues on new boat digital and electrical systems, so using a local professional is vital - you need someone to call if something needs adjusting.  We recommend professional marine design/build/install by MasterPro Audio based in Cullman, AL, who is also mobile and can come to your dock if needed, and available for phone assistance 24/7 – Call Scott Hanna @ 205-470-8250.  

MasterPro Audio, Logo

Ronix Covert CGA Vest, Photo: Lakeside Gear

• PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) – There must be a proper U.S. Coast Guard/Coast Guard Approved "USCG/CGA" device for every rider in the boat, and children under 8 MUST wear their device at all times - while the boat is underway, floating, or anchored.  There must also be at least one Type IV throwable device on board as well - commonly referred to as "seat cushions," throwable floating cushions and sometimes approved flat floating rings.  Check to be sure the items indicate "Type IV" prior to purchase.  Make sure all your PFDs are in good useable condition (i.e. not damaged, torn, dry-rotted, missing latches, bad zippers, etc.).  Buy your life vests locally - try Lakeside Gear in Cullman, AL for all your watersports gear - call 205-470-8250 or 256-708-7679.  This Alabama based company can order most anything you need for boating and watersports delivered right to your doorstep - shop local, support local.  Also visit other local sporting goods shops like Russell Marine-Smith Lake, Trident Marina, Pine Valley Outdoors and Pat's Archery & Outdoors.
• Ropes - Make sure you have mooring and towing ropes in excellent condition and that you’ve learned, along with your crew, the best types of ties and knots to safely dock a boat in quick situations and for longer term parking or storage applications. 
• Lights – make sure your navigation lights are in excellent working condition because they MUST be used properly according to requirements from “sunset to sunrise” as defined by ALEA while the boat is underway, floating or anchored.  

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SAMPLE Marine Fire Extinguisher, Manufacturer: Kidde, Photo: walmart.com

• Engine check – make sure your engine has been maintained properly prior to launching and is in perfect operational condition.  This means checking all connections to be sure there are no leaks of any kind that could cause hazard.  This is a great time to check hoses, belts, impellars, etc.  Also check the condition of your batteries, connections, and electrical system throughout the boat.  Hopefully you have had professional maintenance or you are in close contact with your boat manufacturer and local dealer for any questions well ahead of the season.
• Ventilation System/Blowers – These functions need to be in ideal working order at all times.  
• Muffler – This is self-explanatory and should be basic operating equipment for all newer boats.  This helps keep the vessel engine noise at bay and keeps toxic fumes from being a hazard to those near the rear of the boat.  If you have questions, please discuss this with your boat manufacturer immediately.

• Fire Extinguishers – these must be appropriate for your size vessel, in perfect operating condition and not past their expiration date.  See the ALEA link above for more detailed information.
• Backfire Trap - USCG approved flame arrestor (aka backfire trap).  ALEA explains this in their link, but if you are unsure about your vessel’s compliance, please contact your local dealer or the manufacturer so you can check that this is satisfactory and standard equipment on your boat, and how to handle the issue if needed.

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Illustration of a marine vessel "emergency shut-off switch", Photo: boat-ed.com

• ​Emergency shut-off switch - This is standard equipment on most vessels that operate on Smith Lake and often is a bright red or orange switch with a lanyard-type extension that connects from the boat switch point to the driver while a vessel is under operation.  How does it work?  If the "key" in the switch pulls out (in the case of a driver being thrown or ejected from the cockpit area in a crash type situation), the elimination of the key from the switch causes all power to the boat to be shut off immediately.  This is an important safety feature.  This device should be checked yearly to be sure there are no cracks or disconnections in the switch, weaknesses or breaks in the lanyard device or connection clip.  The connection must be engaged and operational at all times while underway or while the boat is on.  (see illustration)
• Sound Device – this is described as a horn, whistle or bell type sound making device.  Boaters should know that visibility can be affected greatly at night, or in inclement weather, fog, etc.  Therefore, you must keep a sound device on board.  We keep both a whistle and an air horn in a waterproof packet in our glove box at all times.  Check each season to make sure they are in perfect working order.

• Visual Distress Signals (VDSs).  Please refer to the ALEA link above on this for particulars.  This is required only on federally controlled waters, but as sailors in the Gulf, having them for us is a precaution that was always a part of our prep package for sailing and we've carried it over to our lake boating as an additional safety precaution - it's a personal thing.  So, personally, we carry non-pyrotechnic devices: usually orange smoke signals for day use (3 are recommended) and a highly visible electric light for signaling at night (1 recommended), and we additionally carry a very bright flashlight and a white flag – all are for signaling distress at different times of the day.  We feel most recreational boats that operate on very large inland lakes should have VDSs for peace of mind, and non-pyrotechnic is our favorite.  If it is something you want to have, consider investing in a) 3 hand-held red flares (day & night), or b) 3 orange smoke signals (day) and 1 electric light (night).

• Never leave a boater stranded - Last but not least, always safely stop to assist a boater in distress.  Even if you do not have the equipment or experience to help, you may be able to assist them by getting them off an unsafe vessel, or simply helping to make a phone call if their cell phone is dead.  This is kind of a known “rule of the water.”  There is a saying we like as members of an ocean sailing family – “A sailor in need requires a good deed, so throw a rope and give him some hope."   If you need to tow a boat, make sure your rope is proper for towing the weight of the other boat.  On Smith Lake, we all consider it an honor to help a fellow boater any way we can safely.  Folks around here more often don't ask for anything in return except that you “pay it forward.”  It’s always nice to offer a few dollars for gas after a really long haul, or grab your helper a meal if the marina is open, but most boaters will require nothing more than a sincere and thoughtful “Thank you” and a promise to "Pay it Forward."  Boating ettiquete at its best.​

CLICK PICK for link to "Top 12 Towing Tips", Photo: southern boating.com

• Safety Course and Boat Inspection - Did you know that …”the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will perform a Courtesy Marine Examination (CME) of your boat and equipment free of charge. This inspection covers federal and state requirements. If your boat meets all CME requirements, you will receive a CME decal. If your boat fails to meet all requirements, no report is made to any law enforcement agency.”  - ALEA.  It’s worth a call to ALEA to see if an inspection can be done in your area.  TIP from local Capt. Chris Jackson-Professional Angler, "In fact, many USCG Auxiliary units (there is one on most lakes in Alabama) do a full boater safety course as well as free boat inspections yearly. I have attended several courses over the years along with getting my actual Captains License prior to becoming a guide and charter Capt.. it’s a great course. The inspection is great for anyone with a boat. They will go through the entire boat and list anything you need to get as well as give you a decal that your vessel was inspected that year. This is not required at all but great to have." 

We hope the checklist above helps you get ahead and geared up for a great boating season.  A little work on the front end of the season saves endless needless headaches, stress or worst yet, unnecessary and unwanted citations.  Again, we stress this emphatically, be sure to follow all instructions from the ALEA website first and foremost, and use our suggestions only as additional advice.  Here’s the link again:  Alabama Law Enforcement Agency – Alabama Marine Patrol Division:  https://www.alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol.  

Other Links that you should check:

• Boating Rules & Regulations from Alabama Law Enforcement Agency: https://www.alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol/boating-rules-and-regulations
• Safe Boating – Wear Your Life Jacket:  https://www.alea.gov/dps/marine-patrol/safe-boating​

Be sure to check our other lists on our blog and through our magazine - samples below.  (these will soon be linked for ease of navigation...)

• Boater’s Bag Check List
• Boat Tote Check List
• Friendly Boating Advice (from a previous magazine issue)
• No Alcohol while boating on Smith Lake (from a previous magazine issue)
• Boating on Smith Lake – recommended DO NOTs (from a previous magazine issue)

Contact, message, or comment if you'd like us to add anything specific to the list or if we need to revise or repair a broken link.  We'll be updating the list annually.  Thank you!

Updated:  05/01/2023