"A.B's
OFFICE" :
Is the only charter fishing boat on
the St. Lawrence River and Lake Ontario, annually inspected and certified
by
the U. S.
Coast Guard (not "examined" or "approved" by the C.G. Auxiliary, and
there's a big
difference).
Where every other charter boat is limited to carry no more than six
passengers, A.B.'s Office, with
a length of 30 feet and a beam of 12
feet, is Certified to
carry up to 15 passengers, plus captain and mate. This does away with
the
necessity to charter two boats for groups of more than six anglers,
saving the group a good deal of money and greatly adding to the
camaraderie of the outing.
* What does C.G. Inspected & Certified mean to me? A small passenger vessel, one that can legally carry more than six passengers, must be built to stringent U.S.C.G. specifications from the keel up.
Coast Guard inspections are made throughout the construction to assure conformance to the specifications. Such specifications include specially built fuel tanks, additional fire extinguishers and under deck fixed automatic Halon systems, special wiring and hoses, commercial grade PFDs and most of all, fire retardent fiberglass and extensive stability tests. Following passage of the final inspection the vessel is "certified" to perform its duties within the authority of the certification. Every year thereafter the vessel must undergo a rigid inspection by the C.G. Marine Safety Detachment to assure passengers that the vessel is still in compliance with those standards and certified to perform its designated service.
While many charter boats may be inspected by the C.G. Auxiliary, these are nothing more than "courtesy" inspections to insure that the vessel has minimal, yet necessary, PFDs, lights, anchor, etc. on board to satisfy the requirements of normal pleasure craft. Auxiliary members are not qualified to, and can not perform inspections on certified vessels.