Getting Checked Out: Coast Guard Inspecting Boats at Johnny's Marina Sunday

Nick Salamone's father, Johnny, owns the marina bearing his name, the one sitting just on the end of the Riverstyx Bridge. So you'd figure Nick knows a few things about boat safety.

And while he does, even an expert makes mistakes. Recently, the state police's marine corps cited Nick with a violation — he didn't have a fire extinguisher onboard.

The point: If you're a boat owner, maybe you should consider going to Johnny's Marina Sunday morning and having the Coast Guard inspect your vessel.

Need more incentive? It's free.

"I think everyone on the lake should have it done," said Johnny Salamone, who's owned the marina for seven years.

"They're going to look over everybody's boat and make sure they're safe."

Jim Mackin, a Johnny' Marina mechanic, said many boaters aren't aware of many boating codes.

"There might be things wrong that the boat owner doesn't realize," Mackin said. "Maybe a light's out. Maybe there's an electrical hazard. They'll look at the entire boat.

"It saves the boat owner money going through this process. If there's something wrong that the boat owner doesn't see, it might save his boat."

Johnny Salamone said the Coast Guard would target the small stuff: fuel lines, safety devices and lights. He expected the process to take about a half an hour.

It wasn't Salamone's idea, but he said he's glad that the Coast Guard reached out. And he likened the service to New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Agency's. Kind of.

"Except [the Coast Guard] is a lot nicer," he said. "And a lot quicker."

Salamone added that Vera Reed of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was a big help in organzing the event.

Then he mentioned a final kicker: For those worried about floating inspections, boat owners who get their vessels OK'ed Sunday will receive Coast Guard stickers, which signals to the state marine police that the ship's in good shape.

"It gives them less of a chance to go down into your boat and start checking stuff because it's already been checked by the Coast Guard, who makes the rules," Salmone said.

There's a checklist all boat owners should review before hitting the water, according to the Coast Guard. The checklist: registration, lifejackets, fire extinguishers, ventilation, backfire flame arrester, sound producing device, navigation lights, visual distress signals, sanitation device, fuel system, electrical devices and galley installation.

Editor's note: Johnny's Marina will also give those who get their boat inspected 10 percent off all purchases Sunday.