Answer
Summer Inlet traffic and sudden squalls expose missing flares or dead horns fast—Coast Guard boardings and self-rescue both assume working gear. Five-minute dock checks beat emergency tows.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Maryland DNR · Visit Ocean City
Editorial visitor guidance for Ocean City, Maryland. Confirm current Town of Ocean City, Maryland DNR, NPS Assateague, and NWS rules when regulations or safety apply.
