The Federal Boating Safety Act of 1971 required boat manufacturers to give the purchasers of their boats notice of defects of their boat or associated equipment "relating to safety or failure to comply with a standard prescribed" by the Act. The Coast Guard is the initial source of information which results in defect recalls. Whether they are the initial source or not, they must be advised. A list of boats or associated equipment which has been recalled is maintained and published by the Coast Guard.
Four recent recalls issued by the Coast Guard involved out-of-business manufacturers and each was because the boats did not have adequate floatation required to keep a swamped boat level in the water. This defect could result in loss of life under certain conditions. Because the manufacturer's have gone out of business without completing the recalls, owners of these boats will have to contact the Coast Guard to get information on how to check their boats for adequate floatation and how to correct them if needed.
Access to the information on whether a boat has a defect recall may be obtained from several sources. One is the CD-ROM US Maritime Information System which we have previously written about. However, the information on those will only be as current as the date the information on it was acquired.
Another source is the Coast Guard's Infoline, phone 1-800-368-5647, or the TDD line 1-800-689-0816.
A third source is the Coast Guard's new Navigation Information Computer Bulletin Board Service (BBS). The modem number is 1-703-313-5910. After logging on, enter the Recreational Boating menu. See separate article for more information on this bulletin Board.
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