Nassau Bay boat owners can get a free safety inspection Monday, Aug. 10, through a partnership between the city and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The city has five docking slips available for boaters arriving by water, and those with trailers can haul their vessels in by land. Kayaks are welcome, too. Residents with questions can call Nassau Bay City Hall at 281-333-4211; the office is at 1800 Space Park Drive, Suite 200.

The checks are voluntary and carry no enforcement consequences, according to a civic alert posted by Nassau Bay. Coast Guard Auxiliary examiners have no law enforcement authority, and any deficiencies found are not reported to police or game wardens. Owners whose boats don't pass can correct the issues and return for a re-inspection with no penalty.

Inspectors will review life jackets, fire extinguishers, distress signals such as flares, navigation lights, ventilation and registration. The inspections verify that recreational boats meet federal and state safety equipment requirements.

The event grew out of a proposal heard at Nassau Bay's Maritime Safety Committee meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 5. The committee agenda, signed by city secretary Maria Rodriguez and posted July 27, listed the event as a "Voluntary Vessel Safety Check Day." As we reported Aug. 4, no date had been set at that time.

Nationally, the Coast Guard recorded 3,877 recreational boating accidents in 2024, resulting in 556 deaths. In nearly 87% of those fatal incidents, the victim was not wearing a life jacket. The Coast Guard Auxiliary conducts annual life jacket use surveys at four popular natural water sites in the Houston region: Lake Conroe, Galveston Bay, Clear Lake and the San Jacinto River.

Boats that pass the inspection receive a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary safety decal.