General

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is advising boaters with vessels that have a U.S. Coast Guard Certificate of Documentation to be wary of any letter arriving by U.S. mail offering renewal.

BoatUS advises that while the Coast Guard does send official annual renewal notices by U.S. mail, other notices being received by BoatUS members are not from the Coast Guard but rather third-party companies whose name or return addresses may appear similar to that of the official U.S. Coast Guard National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC).

BoatUS members have complained that these letters direct them to websites that may be mistaken for the actual Coast Guard NVDC located in Falling Waters, West Virginia, and appear to show a significant increase in the annual fee to renew Coast Guard documentation.

A 2017 Coast Guard issued bulletin says in part: “The NVDC is aware that there are commercial entities that offer to manage the certification/renewal process on behalf of vessel owners for a fee. The Coast Guard does not endorse any of these companies, and the companies do not operate on behalf of the Coast Guard in any way. Any fees charged or agreements offered by such companies are in no way associated with the NVDC certification process. In addition, these companies are not authorized to issue any form of documentation, including travel letters and/or permits that authorize operation of ANY vessel. Customer complaints can be made through the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) website at www.ftc.gov.”

While third-party companies may legitimately provide services to assist with vessel documentation renewals, the Coast Guard’s own renewal process is simple for most vessels, and the price ranges from $26 for one year up to $130 for a 5-year expiration, which is often much lower than what third-party services may charge.

To renew, go to the Coast Guard National Documentation Center website at www.uscg.mil/nvdc and click on “instructions and forms,” then “Certificate of Documentation Application for Renewal.”

To be documented, a vessel must measure at least 5 net tons and, with the exception of certain oil-spill response vessels, owned by a U.S. citizen. Boats about 27 feet in length or longer generally meet the weight requirement.

Why do boat owners choose to federally document vessels with the U.S. Coast Guard versus the more common practice of state registration? The boat was purchased with a bank loan and the lender required it, or the boat has plans to travel beyond U.S. waters. A Certificate of Documentation is internationally recognized and makes it easier for American vessels to enter and leave foreign ports.

BoatUS also advises boaters who may have received mail that they believe is misleading or deceptive to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or through its website postalinspectors.uspis.gov.

A former Coast Guard rescue swimmer provides his views about PFDs, and his opinions may surprise you.

“When I was in the U.S. Coast Guard, I couldn’t say this; but I believe the phrase “Always wear your life jacket” is terrible advice. It’s not that wearing a life jacket while boating is in any way a bad thing, but the phrase oversimplifies a very complex problem and “always” – left undefined – is meaningless.”

Click to read “What Lifejacket To Wear, and When To Wear It” from Soundings, written by Mario Vittone.

Buying a boat on a budget of $20,000 is easy!  In this video the Practical Sailor team looks at a Pearson 31, a Hunter 31, a Bristol 29.9, and a Cape Dory.  They discuss potential problem areas including the mast and rigging, the boat’s deck core, it’s engine hours, and keel bolts.

Click to watch “How To Buy A Cheap Sailboat – $20,000 or less!” from Practical Sailor.

A former Coast Guard rescue swimmer explains how catchy phrases can perpetuate bad advice, especially at sea.

“I’m amazed at how long bad advice perpetuates when it’s given in a catchy phrase. An example: Don’t leave the boat until the boat leaves you. This might be the most misguided advice ever to cross the lips of otherwise sensible men and women. Another example: Red sky at night, sailor’s delight.”

Click to read “Staying With The Boat And Other Safety Myths” from Soundings, written by Mario Vittone.

There has been a lot of discussion and some controversy surrounding lithium batteries for boats.  In this excellent article from Practical Sailor, Drew Frye explains the positive and negatives of lithum batteries.

Click to read “Simple Lithium for Outboard-Powered Tenders, Daysailers, and Sport Boats” from Practical Sailor, written by Drew Frye.

 

Dear Fellow Boaters,
We have provided you with this information before, but here it is again: USCG Local Notices to Mariners and Light Lists are available in a new format which was finally launched on December 6, 2024:  https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/msi .  Updated information will be available to anyone at any time. There is a guide to how to use this at https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/msi/MSI_UserGuide.pdf.

It is easy to add your position on your phone or computer and to search the area around you or where you plan to be on the water. We hope that you will take time to become familiar with the new system and make sure that you use it before you go boating. The LNM information will be updated every 15 minutes, the Light List every 24 hours, so you won’t have to wait a week for the LNMs, or two weeks for East Coast Alerts. But it’s up to you to use it!

It has been our pleasure to present East Coast Alerts to BoatU.S. members for the last twenty years. We hope it has helped improve your safety on the water.
It’s now up to you! We will miss you.

Happy Boating, have fun and be safe, Mel and Tom Neale
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

The below announcement from the 7th District Coast Guard provides an excellent summary:

Published Dec. 13, 2024

MIAMI – The Coast Guard recently updated the user interface to the Local Notice to Mariners and Light Lists in an effort to modernize and improve the accessibility, accuracy and overall user experience for mariners and stakeholders.
This update was released the week of Dec. 2.
The upgrades are designed to improve accessibility, accuracy, and efficiency for mariners and stakeholders by providing real-time, customizable marine safety information.
Beginning in January 2025, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Coast Survey will discontinue the production of paper charts. Due to this change, the Coast Guard transitioned from the traditional, paper-based files, which were inefficient and posed challenges for mariners needing timely, accurate information.
“The modernized Local Notice to Mariners creates access to the most up to date Marine Safety Information available, in a customizable, chart-based and interactive format,” said Cmdr. Nicholas Seniuk, Waterways Management Branch Chief for the Seventh Coast Guard District. “The data can be presented graphically on the interactive map viewer, in tabular format on the Coast Guard Navigation Center website, as a document, or rendered within certain geospatial information software.”
Coast Guard District Seven collaborated with the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center to redesign the LNM and Light List platforms.

Key actions included:

• Transitioning from static, paper-based charts to interactive maps using official waterway names.
• Implementing real-time updates: LNMs refresh every 15 minutes, and Light List data updates every 24 hours following verification.
• Creating features for users to customize, filter, and print maritime safety data tailored to specific voyages.
• Eliminating weekly files, including LNMs and Light List corrections, to focus resources on delivering accurate, up-to- the-minute data.

The updated platform provides mariners with unparalleled access to critical navigation tools:

• Near real-time updates ensure the most current and verified safety information is always available.
• Mariners can now access Marine Safety Information in a format of their choosing, including online, printable, or geospatial software integrations.
• Customizable features allow users to generate tailored safety information lists, streamlining voyage planning and improving operational efficiency.

Key changes for Mariners:

1. Transition from Paper Charts: As NOAA phases out paper charts, the Coast Guard is adopting official waterway names for navigation references.
2. Interactive Maps: LNMs and Light Lists are now displayed on a user-friendly, interactive map.
3. Real-time Updates: LNMs update every 15 minutes, and Light Lists every 24 hours.
4. Customizable Access: Users can create and print lists tailored to their voyages or download the entire LNM.

For a user guide and more information, visit the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center. Questions can be submitted through the Contact Us page by selecting ‘LNMs or Light Lists’ from the dropdown menu.

This modernization represents a significant leap in maritime safety, aligning the Coast Guard with cutting-edge navigation technology to ensure the safety and efficiency of mariners worldwide.