ORDER DIRECT: 800-639-2715
SEARCH: KEYWORD OR ITEM #

Safety Requirements for Recreational Boats

As the owner of a recreational boat, you are required to carry aboard your vessel a minimum of safety equipment. Most of us go about our boating experience giving very little thought to the possibility of misfortune, and rarely are our experiences anything but positive. But remember the motto: Be prepared!

As vessel owners we are subject to the requirements placed upon us by our state and federal governments regarding the operation of, and the equipment we carry on, our boats. Some might feel this is a case of Big Brother being involved more than they would like but the reality is that safety items we are required to carry on board are usually only the minimum. Sometimes when a tragic situation does occur, vessel operators wish they had gone beyond the minimum. These requirements are for our own good.

So, what exactly are we required to carry on board? Certainly, the size and type of vessel has some impact on that decision. Here is the list, made as convenient as possible.

SAFETY EQUIPMENT LIST

  1. Lifejackets (PFD- personal flotation device). One properly sized, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) approved PFD for each person on board. These must be in serviceable condition, easily accessible, and are a requirement for ALL vessels. Boats 16 feet and longer, except canoes and kayaks, must also carry an additional PFD called a throwable (Type IV) device. Type V PFDs (inflatable) must be worn at all times aboard to be considered a PFD; wearers must be 16 years of age, or older.
  2. Visual Distress Signals. A minimum of three signals for day use and three signals for night use must be kept on board. We suggest pyrotechnic devices (flares). There are red signals that qualify for day/night use. We recommend these. Signals must be currently dated (they have a 3-year lifespan). If you venture more than a few miles from shore, orange smoke signals and rocket type flares make a smart addition. Save your outdated signals in a separate location from the currently dated ones, so you will have back-up signals.
  3. If your boat is over 16 feet you must carry Visual Distress Signals. Exceptions are: vessels on lakes (except the Great Lakes), sailboats under 26 feet without propulsion machinery, manually propelled boats, and boats participating in organized events—for these vessels VDS are not required. Non-pyrotechnic devices and electric distress lights may also be acceptable under certain situations.
  4. Fire Extinguishers. There are many types of fire extinguishers and the regulations are rather complicated. Essentially, if your boat has an engine or a cooking system aboard, you are required to have the minimum compliment of fire extinguishers. These must be USCG approved Marine devices. If your vessel has much wood aboard be sure the devices you carry are also rated for wood/paper fires (“A”), not just gas, oil, and grease (“B”) or electrical (“C”). There is always confusion here as the sizes of fire extinguishers also use the letter “B”—as in B-I, B-II, to indicate the volume of suppressant. Fire extinguishers must be mounted in their brackets, have operating gauges (if any), must be in good physical condition (no rust, dents, etc.), and have seals/tamper indicators in place. Those with indicated weights, should be weighed to verify no propellant or suppressant loss. Dry chemical extinguishers should be inverted and tapped periodically to keep the powder from compacting. Vessels less than 26’ require one B-I; 26’ to 40’ vessels require two B-I or one B-II; 40’ to 65’ require three B-I or one B-II and one B-I. Think about it, why would you not have more than the minimum requirement?
  5. Ventilation. Boats that use gasoline for propulsion, mechanical power, or electrical generation are required to have adequate ventilation. This narrows down to permanently installed engines in enclosed spaces and the gasoline storage tanks that are adjacent to, or vent into them. Adequate natural ventilation and/or a powered ventilation system is required to remove the toxic, potentially explosive fumes. The regulations are complex, but if your boat was built after August 1, 1980 it must meet these requirements. A good rule of thumb is to install a powered ventilation system so there is good ventilation in all areas of the boat where gasoline fumes may linger, if one does not presently exist. Outboard motors are exempt.
  6. Backfire Flame Control. Gasoline engines installed in a motor powered boat after April 25, 1940, except outboard motors, must be equipped with an acceptable means of backfire control. A backfire flame arrestor must be secured to the air intake with a flame-tight connection and must be USCG approved or comply with SAE-J-1928 or UL 1111 standards and be marked accordingly.
  7. Sound Producing Devices. Navigation Rules require that sound signals be made under certain circumstances. Recreational vessels are required to carry sound producing devices as follows: 12 meters (39.4 feet) or more: whistle; 20 meters (65.5 feet) or more: whistle and a bell. An air horn or an electric horn counts as a whistle. Currently these requirements are the same for Inland and International Waters.
  8. Navigation Lights. Refer to the Navigation Lighting section in our current catalog. As the regulations are rather complex, suffice it to say that for sailing vessels under 23 feet (7 meters), if lights can’t be shown, then a handheld flashlight with white light must be shown in time to avoid a collision. Vessels under oar or paddle power may also use a white flashlight, if navigation lights are not part of the vessel’s equipment list. All other vessels should exhibit proper lighting as required.
  9. Other Requirements. If your vessel has a toilet it must have an operable Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) Type I, II, or III. Vessels 26’ and longer must display a Garbage Placard. Vessels 26’ and longer with a machinery space must display an Oil Pollution Placard. Vessels longer than 12 meters (39.4 feet) operating in U.S. Inland Waters must have a copy of the Inland Navigations Rules aboard. U.S. Oceangoing vessels over 12 meters (39.4 feet) with a galley and berthing, or engaged in commerce must have a posted Waste Management Plan on board. Vessels with propulsion machinery must be either State Registered or Documented with proper numbers correctly didplayed. Documentation papers or registration papers must be carried aboard.
  10. Common Sense. Surprisingly, there is no requirement that a communications device be carried aboard recreational vessels under 65.6 feet (20 meters). Common sense dictates that every vessel traveling more than a mile from shore carry a marine VHF radio—either a handheld or a fixed mount. If you do have a VHF radio aboard there IS a requirement to monitor Channel 16 or Channel 9, whenever the radio is powered up.

EPIRBs (Emergency Positioning Radio Beacons) have been around for over 20 years. The technology has advanced tremendously and the system has proven itself thousands of times. Some versions incorporate a GPS to pinpoint your location. If you are going offshore, especially in colder waters, or making a passage an EPIRB is the cheapest insurance there is. Consider investing in one.

Store Menu