A check ride is an evaluation — and usually some training — requested by your insurance company. Underwriters routinely require both new boat owners and experienced owners taking on an unfamiliar or larger vessel to have a USCG-licensed captain verify familiarity and competence before a policy activates.
What you will be asked to demonstrate
The evaluation is practical, not academic. You will be asked to show a basic understanding of navigation; to operate the vessel safely in a channel and in close quarters, including docking; to know how the systems fitted to your boat work, how they are maintained and how the simple faults get fixed; and to know where the required safety equipment is and how to use it.
Where something is not yet solid, it gets trained rather than failed. The point of the ride is to get you signed off and insured, and most owners need a few hours of focused work rather than a verdict.
Switching between shore power and generator, and breaker operation.
03
Safety equipment
Life jackets, flare kits and fire extinguishers — location, condition and use.
04
VHF radio
Mayday procedure, calling for assistance, and getting a weather check.
05
Navigation
Paper and electronic charts, reading latitude and longitude, channel markers, radar, GPS and SSB operation.
06
Boat handling
Getting underway, backing, anchoring including storm anchoring, twin-screw work, bow thruster use, heavy weather technique, man overboard, running at night, and docking.
