🔍 Key Concepts

• 46 CFR requirements for lifeboat and rescue boat launching appliances • Inspection and maintenance intervals for winches, limit switches, falls, and launching gear • Difference between frequent/routine checks and thorough inspections

💭 Think About

• Think about how critical winches, falls, and limit switches are to safe launching of survival craft—would the regulation likely choose a very short, very long, or moderate interval for a thorough inspection? • Compare this interval to typical requirements for changing or end‑for‑ending lifeboat falls in the CFR—are those more frequent or less frequent than a thorough inspection of all the equipment? • Ask yourself which option best fits a schedule that can be tied to regular USCG or class surveys and shipboard maintenance routines.

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify in 46 CFR, Subchapter W – Lifesaving Appliances and Arrangements for the exact inspection interval wording. • Confirm that the requirement is for a thorough inspection (not just operational checks or pre‑departure checks). • Check that the chosen time period is realistic to document in the vessel’s maintenance and safety management system (SMS).