The coast guard displays some items that should be aboard boats participating in GasparillaTAMPA, FL -
The Tampa Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer free boat inspections at the Gandy Boat Ramp this weekend in advance of the January 26th Gasparilla Invasion.
"We've been very fortunate over the last several years where not a lot of serious accidents have occurred," said Tim Teahan with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Teahan says officials would like to keep Tampa Bay trouble free by ensuring boaters have all the safety equipment required by law.
That safety equipment includes signaling devices, visual distress signals, fire extinguishers, life jackets as well as a means of retrieving a person who goes overboard.
Coast Guard officials will offer the free safety inspections Saturday and Sunday from 8am until 1pm, and boaters don't need to worry about receiving a citation for any non-compliance.
On Gasparilla Day however, about a dozen law enforcement agencies will be patrolling the water, and they will be writing citations.
"Gasparilla is sort of an opportunity for them to do mass inspections of vessels throughout the day, and they do it," Teahan said.
