BOATING TIPS -- MARCH 1993
Useful Names and Addresses

I thought that it would be worthwhile to give you some addresses, names & numbers to help you boaters prepare for the coming season. Hopefully, this will cover your legal needs for 1993:

"Coast Guard User Fee": This year, boats over 21' need a decal; next year, it will be boats 37' and larger. It's easiest to order by phone, call (800) 848-2100.

"FCC Ship's Licenses": If you have a VHF, EPIRB, RADAR, or certain more technical items, you should have a current ship's station license. Get form 506 from one of the local radio shops and send it with $35 to the address on the form. Hint: if you've even got an idea of adding something that must be licensed to your boat, check its box when you apply. It's okay to have a license for equipment not yet installed.

"FCC Operator's License": You will need a "Restricted Radiotelephone Permit" if you expect to boat in Canada or Mexico. Get an application from any radio dealer and send it in.

"State Parks & Recreation Permit": It's a good idea to have a State Parks Moorage Permit if you're going to be using the buoys or docks at Sucia, Matia, Jones Island, Reid Harbor, etc. The 1993 rates are $35 for boats under 26', $55 for boats 26' or over. Send your check with your boat name, home port, length, and Washington registration number or Coast Guard Documentation number to Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission, P. O. Box 42664, Olympia, WA 98504-2664.

"Customs Decals": You will get one of these automatically the first time you check back into customs from out-of-U.S. travel, if your boat is 30 feet or over (a good reason to "know", for example, that your boat is 29'-11"!) The cost is $25. Or, to order in advance, send your boat name, length, type, make, and year, Washington or Coast Guard registration number, and home port to Department of the Treasury, United States Customs Service, Small Boat Reporting System, 9901 Pacific Highway, Blaine, WA 98230. Call 332-7650.

"Registration": Your Washington registration expires June 30. Be sure to renew early if you will be away cruising on that date, so you can already have a decal with you!

"Insurance": Did you remember to renew your policy? Is it up to date, or is all that new stuff you've ordered not covered? Check with your agent!

"Another "fee" to consider": I like to support another organization: Interclub, now called the "Recreational Boating Association of Washington". They've saved us boaters thousands of dollars in taxes through their Olympia lobbying efforts. Get details from the Club, or write to RBAW, P. O. Box 9554, Seattle, WA 98109.

"Don't forget the Courtesy Inspection": The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers this free safety check of your boat. Inspectors are expected at the BYC School of Boating, and around Opening Day. Ask around for them! I never have an inspection where the examiner doesn't give me some good tip for safer boating.

"A reminder": A few columns back, I suggested a "Customs Log". Now's the time to prepare one for the coming year: Simply rule of a page with the following columns: Date In, Date Out, Port of Entry, Port of Exit, Clearance # In, Clearance # Out, Passengers Aboard. Keeping this log up to date could save you a fortune later on if Customs, as can happen, loses the records of your entry or exit!

All rights reserved. For permission to copy, contact Joe Coons.