What Safety Equipment Is Required on a Boat?

Having the proper safety gear and knowing how to utilize it is crucial. You are not allowed to operate a recreational vessel unless all needed safety equipment is readily accessible, in good working order, and regularly maintained. Additionally, these few crucial components will keep you safe and out of trouble with the law.

Everyone on board must understand the safety gear, its location in storage, and how to utilize it. Safety gear is not a replacement for careful planning; therefore, ensure your safety gear is in working order when preparing for a trip.

Here are a few items to bring this boating season that are both necessary and advised.

Wearable Personal Floatation Devices (PFDs) and Life Jackets

Everybody on board must have access to a wearing, accessible PFD that is Type I, II, or III. If you pull a skier or wake surfer behind the boat, a PFD is also necessary.

• Anyone operating a PWC must always wear a PFD. And children under the age of 12 must always wear a PFD when on a moving vessel.
• Ensuring everyone on board dons their life jackets is the first thing you should do in a life-threatening emergency.
• Alternatively, you may advise everyone to wear their life jackets before leaving the pier. 
• Despite not being required; your pet should wear a life jacket.

Fire Extinguishers

Although there are many different types and classifications of fire extinguishers, it should be understood that PWCs and boats under 26 feet must each have at least one B-1 extinguisher. Those between 26 and slightly about 40 feet must have either one B-2 type or two B-1 type extinguishers, in contrast.

• With your loved ones and guests, go over how to use an extinguisher: pull the pin, press the handle, and aim towards the base of the flames.

Throwable Flotation Devices.

In addition to the life jackets you are wearing, you should have at least one Type IV floating object that, in case of an emergency, you may throw to someone in the water. 

• Even though only one throwable flotation device is required, it’s best to have more than one, which can be cushions, ring buoys, or something else.
• You can also tie a line to some of these objects, which will enable you to pull someone out of the water and bring them closer to the boat.

Visual Signaling Devices

There are several different standards for visual distress signals, depending on where you go boating and the size of the vessel.

• On vessels under 16 feet, flares or other nighttime signs are necessary. Any boat with 16 feet needs to have visible daytime and nighttime signals.
• Examples of pyrotechnic items or flares that may satisfy the specifications include white or orange smoke, aerial light flares, and fireworks.
• Some flares may be launched independently, while others need a flare gun.
• Strobe lights are another nighttime tool, however flags can also be employed during the day. However, PWCs do not require nighttime equipment because they cannot be operated between dusk and dawn.

Sound Signaling Devices

Both during the day and at night, sound can attract assistance; they are most effective when there is fog.

• Portable or fixed horns and whistles are regarded as sound-generating equipment for all vessels.
• Larger boats, defined as those longer than 39 feet, should also be equipped with a bell that mariners can ring regularly when visibility is bad, such as in fog.

How and When to Use the Safety Equipment?

You should make sure as the skipper that:

• Everyone knows how to use the safety equipment. To get everyone comfortable putting on life jackets and how they feel, have them practice donning them in favorable conditions.
• Everyone aboard the boat is familiar with how to operate the flares, inflatable life jackets, and distress beacons, as you will not have enough time to teach people how to use the equipment in an emergency.
• Wearing a life jacket requires some time, so do not postpone doing so while the weather is deteriorating.
• Call for assistance before you are in complete distress.
• Your radio allows you to communicate different levels of urgency to a maritime rescue group.

Maintenance and Storage

You, as the skipper, must inform everyone on board of the location of the equipment. It should be kept in a conspicuous and easily accessible location. All safety gear must be kept in excellent shape and always be available. Every time you stow and load your equipment aboard, keep the following in mind:

• Rather than being hidden away under a bunk or in a cabinet, life jackets should be easily available and prepared for use.
• Keep your distress flares handy and dry by storing them in a waterproof, floatable container.
• Distress beacons should be placed where boaters may rapidly reach in an emergency, such as in the cockpit or close to the helm.

FAQ:

What do you need in a safety kit for a boat?

It is best to bring the required safety gear whether you intend to use your boat for fishing, wakeboarding, skiing, diving, day cruising, or overnight excursions. These include lifejackets, wearable personal floatation devices, floating devices (Type IV), fire extinguishers, visual signaling devices, and sound signaling devices. Having such items in your safety kit in a boat can stay safe and out of trouble with the law with some simple equipment.

What should boat operators have on board?

Understanding and using the mandatory onboard boat safety equipment is crucial to a wise boater. Therefore, having the right equipment on board is one of the most crucial things you can do to ensure that you are boating safely. The main types of boat safety equipment include personal safety, boat safety, distress, and navigation equipment.

Is a flare gun required on a boat?

On vessels under 16 feet, flares or other nighttime signs are necessary. Any boat with 16 feet needs to have visible daytime and nighttime signals. Examples of pyrotechnic items or flares that may satisfy the specifications include white or orange smoke, aerial light flares, and fireworks.

What size boat needs a fire extinguisher?

The presence of a fire extinguisher is mandated by law. You must have one 5-B fire extinguisher on board if your boat is under 26 feet long. You require either two 5-B fire extinguishers or one 20-B fire extinguisher for boats between 26 and 40 feet in length.

What does it mean when a vessel sounds 5 short blasts?

Five short rapid blasts indicate danger, a lack of understanding of the other boater’s intentions, or disagreement. To avoid being mistaken for continuous blasts, these must be quick blasts.

Do you need a whistle on a boat?

Boats above 40 feet must carry a bell and whistle, while boats under 40 feet must have a piece of effective sound-producing equipment like a horn or whistle. The whistle must be audible at least half a nautical mile away, and The bell’s mouth must have a minimum diameter of 7.87 inches.