Marine safety service for the working fleets of the Gulf of Maine.
We’ve serviced commercial fishing rafts since before the EPIRB existed. Drop-offs welcome at either shop, or call Portland (207-772-6383) to schedule a pickup—Portland dispatches drivers to every major fishing port in Maine.
We don’t make your boat wait.
A fishing vessel doesn’t get to be down. We schedule around your trips. Drop a raft at the dock, we pick it up. Mail in your suits and EPIRBs in the off-season; pick them up before opening day. For boats that can’t be down at all, we rent loaner rafts during service.
Our team has worked with lobster boats from Penobscot to Casco, Gulf of Maine groundfish draggers, scallopers out of New Bedford, herring carriers, and offshore tuna boats. The gear changes; the regs don’t bend. We’ll get you through both.
Service options for fishing boats
- Walk-in drop-offs at Portland (Cove St.) & Ellsworth (Bucksport Rd.)
- No appointment needed—just bring it in Mon–Fri (Portland 8am–5pm, Ellsworth 8am–4pm)
- Dockside pickup throughout Maine on a regular route — call Portland to schedule
- Mail-in for suits, PFDs, EPIRBs nationwide
- Loaner rafts for vessels that can’t be down
- Fleet account billing & multi-vessel scheduling
- Documented certificates emailed to the owner
- Pre-season fleet inspections before opening day
What the Coast Guard will look for on a 46 CFR 28 boat.
This is a working-watch summary. Always check the most current 46 CFR 28 text and any vessel-specific endorsements before opening day.
| Vessel category | Required safety equipment | Service interval |
|---|---|---|
| Documented vessel, beyond Boundary Line, 16+ persons or longer than 36′ | USCG-approved life raft sized for 100% of POB; EPIRB Cat I; immersion suits for each person; PFDs; visual distress signals. | Annual raft & suit; 24-mo HRU; 5-yr EPIRB battery |
| Documented vessel, beyond Boundary Line, fewer than 16 persons | Approved life raft or buoyant apparatus; EPIRB Cat I or II; immersion suits; PFDs; visual distress signals. | Annual raft & suit; 24-mo HRU; 5-yr EPIRB battery |
| Cold water (north of 32° N latitude) | Immersion suit for each person on board; suits inspected annually; sized to crew. | Annual visual + service; replace per manufacturer |
| Vessel of any type, on Boundary Line waters | PFDs (Type I), visual distress signals, fire extinguishers, sound-producing device. | Annual visual; PFDs replaced as required |
[NEEDS INPUT] — verify checklist text with current 46 CFR 28 prior to publishing. We’ll keep this page updated to current regulation.
The Chase Leavitt 46 CFR 28 fleet checklist (PDF)
One-page, printable, and updated annually. Tape it inside the wheelhouse.
Built around the fleets working out of Portland, Stonington, Bar Harbor, and Eastport.
Lobster boats (Maine & offshore)
Day boats and offshore lobster vessels working Maine and Outer Cape grounds. Typical service: PFDs, visual signals, EPIRB, 4–6 person raft on the bigger boats.
Groundfish draggers
Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank draggers. SOLAS-grade rafts, 4–8 person crew, immersion suits and EPIRBs at full count.
Scallop vessels
New Bedford-based and offshore Maine scallopers. Larger crews, redundant equipment, and tighter trip windows than most other commercial fleets.
Tuna & longline
Offshore tuna and pelagic longliners working far from shelf waters. EPIRB, AIS, and life raft requirements scaled for distance offshore.
Herring carriers & midwater
Carrier vessels and midwater pair trawlers operating up and down the New England coast. Multi-vessel fleet contracts available.
Charter, head boats, & OUPV
USCG-inspected and uninspected charter vessels. Higher passenger requirements and visible PFD counts. Pre-season fleet runs available.
Drop your raft at the dock. We’ll pick it up on the next route.
Most fishing fleets don’t have time to truck rafts to Portland. Our pickup routes run regularly during the season. Tell us which dock, leave the raft tagged with the vessel name, and we’ll bring it back certified.
Useful next steps for the fleet.
Life raft service
Annual repacking, inspection, HRU swap, and certification.
Service details →Service interval guide
What’s required and when. Especially worth a read before opening day.
Read the article →Immersion suit service
Annual inspection, repair, and seasonal fleet sizing checks.
Suit services →One owner, multiple vessels? Send the list. We’ll come back with a fleet plan.
Multi-vessel discounts are typical. We can also align service dates to opening day or charter schedule.
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