REQUIRED BOATING SAFETY EQUIPMENT

The U.S. Coast Guard has made a list of essential safety equipment for boats, which they have determined to be the essential equipment and operating guidelines in accordance with federal laws.

This is the basic federal USCG mandatory list. Some states might have added other items/safety equipment, so be sure to check your states rules and regulations for boating.

Life jackets and personal floatation devices – The USCG requires an approved Type I II, III, or V, life jacket or life vest for each person on board. If the vessel has a length of 16 feet or more in length, a throwing floatation device that can be thrown – Type IV – similar to rings is also required. Life jackets should be readily accessible and in good working order and appropriate for the person intended to be worn. Every state has its specific rules for children’s life jackets.

Fire Extinguishers

for boats with less than 26 feet must have at most one B-1 type Coast Guard-approved hand-held, portable fire extinguisher. This is also the minimum. For boats ranging from 26 to 40 feet, two B-1 types or one type B-2 USCG-approved extinguishers will be required. Boats 40 to 65 feet long must have three B-1 extinguishers or 1 B-1, and one B-2 USCG-approved fire extinguisher. Additionally, boats with a length of over 65 feet require one to eight (depending on the size of the vessel) B-2 along with a fixed system for the machinery space. Of course, you may choose to have a fixed system in any boat size and the requirement for portable extinguishers handheld for safety on the water would be less.

All of the required tools can be found in a good boat outfitters store, they only offer the top quality equipment.

Bells and Whistles

Any boat under 40 feet should have an efficient sound producing device such as a bell or whistle, and boats over 40 feet must carry a whistle or bell. The bell’s mouth must be at the minimum 7.87 inches in diameter and the whistle needs to be heard by at least half a nautical mile.

Visual Distress Signals on Coastal Waters, the Great Lakes as well as any U.S.-owned boats which are on high seas, when less than 16 feet in length, must be equipped with approved night signals. All boats over 16 feet must be equipped with three day and three-night signals in the boat.

Ventilation

Boats constructed prior to 1980, should have at least two ventilation ducts which are capable of efficiently ventilating all closed areas with a gasoline engine or tank, but not with tanks that are permanently installed and vent outside of the boat and that do not have unprotected electrical devices. Engine compartments that house the gasoline engine and its cranking motor are required to contain exhaust blowers operated by power that can be controlled via in the control panel.

Boats built after 1980 must have at least two ventilation ducts equipped with cowls (or their equivalent) to assist in efficiently and properly ventilating the bilges of each closed engine and fuel tank compartment with gasoline for fuel or other fuels having a flashpoint of ° or less.

Backfire Flame Arrestor It is not necessary for outboard motors. The rest of the motors are required to use one approved device on every carburetor for all gas engines.

First aid kit

VHF radio

Extra fuel & water

Tool kit

Sun protection

A bucket that could be used as a bailer

Paddles or oars

An Anchor that has enough chain where you are boating usually 5x depth