Recreational Vehicle Courtesy Checks coming to Eagle and Sharbot lakes

Jeff Green | Jun 15, 2016

The Canadian Power and Sail Squadron (CPSS) is a 75-year-old organization devoted to boating in Canada. The local affiliate, Kingston Power and Sail (KPS) is offering a free program to promote safety and help boaters comply with boating regulations.

Stephen Duggan, who lives on Eagle Lake, is a member of KPS and he has organized a Recreational Vehicle Courtesy Checks (RVCC) program for local lakes. Two free safety check rallies will be held in the near future.

The first will be at Eagle Lake on Sunday, June 26 at Parham Landing. From Road 38, take Eagle Lake Road to the end.

The second will be held at Sharbot Lake on Sun. July 3 at the government dock, adjacent to the K&P Railway Park, near the Central Frontenac Township office on Elizabeth Street.

Both rallies are from 10am to 3pm.

A local marina, Sharbot Lake Marina, is offering a 10% discount on safety equipment needed to pass the check.

The safety requirements and criteria for the check are published by Transport Canada’s Office of Boating Safety in their Safe Boating Guide, which can be found by searching the keywords “safe boating guide Canada” on Google.

The check takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete, depending on the size of the boat. Boaters who have on board the equipment as outlined in the Safe Boating Guide will receive a 2016 decal that can be displayed on their boat. Authorities will be able to see that the check has been done and give that boat a pass. The check is anonymous; only generic information (boat size and type, complete or uncompleted) is provided to Transport Canada for review.

The foremost purpose of the program is to ensure the safety of everyone in or on the water, but as well, law enforcement levies hefty fines ($200 per offence) for each piece of missing safety equipment, which can add up to thousands of dollars.

The KPS points out in their communications that drinking and boating is not only unsafe, it is illegal and jeopardizes the safety and enjoyment of all those on the water.

Finally, KPS reminds boaters to wear their personal floatation device (PFD) or lifejacket on the water; 80% of boating fatalities involve boaters not wearing them.

Similar events are scheduled for this summer at Charleston Lake, and in Portland, Westport and Rockport.

Stephen Duggan is also approaching the Sharbot Lake Property Owners Association to help publicize the July 3 safety check rally to its members and the KPS is open to setting up similar programs on other lakes with large boating populations.

For further information, contact Steve Duggan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.