Water vessel Safety Exams; Ensuring watercraft safety is critical
•June 18, 2025•
Submitted
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will be performing Vessel Safety Checks at Lake Shelbyville Dam West over the 4th of July weekend. Vessel exams are currently scheduled from July 2nd through July 6th. An individual can also request specific times or days.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary checks all boats, personal watercraft (PWC), kayaks, canoes, and standing boards for federal, state, and local safety requirements. The examination is a voluntary examination, and boaters can refuse it at any time. In addition to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary doing the free, voluntary examinations, the U.S. Power Squadron (Americas Boating Club), a 501C3 organization, is authorized to do them as well. Both organizations actively teach boating safety courses along with the State Boating Law Administrator, in Illinois, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Boats, personal watercraft (PWC), kayaks, canoes, and stand-up boards that pass the examination get a sticker reflecting that they have passed the examination.