Required Boating Safety Equipment

The Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 (FBSA/71) requires a minimum amount of marine safety equipment aboard all boats operated in U.S. waters. However, local minimum boat safety equipment requirements vary depending on the uniquely hazardous conditions or circumstances, so please check with your local authorities of where you plan to boat for any additional required items. Regard the legal boat safety requirements as a minimum. If the requirement is to have two fire extinguishers on board to meet minimum standards, a third might be desirable or even necessary to ensure that there is one at every location on board where it is needed in case of an emergency.

Backfire Flame Arrestor

All gasoline powerboats built after April 25, 1940, except outboards, must have a Coast Guard approved backfire flame arrestor (complying with SAE J-1928 or UL 1111 standards) attached to each carburetor or throttle body with a flame-tight connection. Remember, they must not be covered with grease or oil.

Sound-Producing Device

All vessels operating in federally controlled waters must have a working horn or whistle aboard capable of producing a blast of 4 seconds and be audible for at least ½ mile. For vessels 65.6 feet in length and greater they must have a whistle or horn, and a bell.

Fire Extinguisher

A “Marine Type USCG Approved” fire extinguisher must be aboard in an accessible area any boat that has an engine in an enclosed space or a fuel tank that is in a compartment. The needle in the gage on the fire extinguisher must be pointing to the green area of the dial. The larger the boat, the more fire extinguishers/fire suppression systems you are required to have. The best one to keep on board is one that will extinguish "Type A, B and C” fires. You will need one if your boat is less than 26 feet, two if your boat is between 26 and 40 feet and three if your boat is between 40 and 65 feet.

Owner’s/ Ship’s Documents

Carry either State registration or documentation papers as well as a pictured identification card, such as a driver’s license.

PFD's (Personal Floatation Devices)

The Federal law requires that you have one accessible PFD (Life Jacket) for every person on board. They must be in good working condition and fit properly to be effective. An adult sized life jacket for a child is not acceptable or visa versa. An improper fitting child’s life jacket may end up drowning the child instead of saving their life and an adult will not have adequate flotation in a child's life jacket. Federal law requires that each child under the age of 13 years old must wear an appropriate USCG-approved PFD unless the child is below decks or in an enclosed cabin. Inflatable PFD's are authorized only for persons over 16 years of age.

Throwable Flotation Device

All vessels 16 ft. and over must have one throwable floatation device aboard. A throwable flotation device would be a life ring, horseshoe or a flotation cushion with two straps.

Proper Ventilation

All gasoline powerboats with an inboard engine, permanently installed fuel tanks and an enclosed bilge area, must be properly ventilated for each compartment. A cowl or intake opening from the atmosphere with a duct extending to midway to the bilge or below the air intake on the carburetor and an exhaust opening to the atmosphere with the duct extending into the lower 1/3 of space and above the normal accumulation of bilge water. All permanently installed gasoline powerboats built after 1 August 1980 must have a working bilge blower with a reminder sign (to run the blower) located near the ignition switch. The blower should be run for at least 4 minutes before starting.

Mufflers

Although there are no Federal laws requiring mufflers many states prohibit vessels from making excessive or disturbing levels of noise. Please review your state information.

Navigation Lights

All power boats, that are allowed to operate after sunset, must have a working set of navigation lights consisting of:

Starboard Light: Green light showing from dead-ahead to 112.5 degrees down the starboard (right) side of the boat.
Port Light: Red light showing from dead-ahead to 112.5 degrees down the port (left) side of the boat.
Masthead Light: White light that shows from dead-ahead to 112.5 degrees on both sides of the bow (a total area of 225 degrees).
Stern Light: White light that shows from dead-astern to 67.5 degrees on both sides of the stern (a total area of 135 degrees).
Steaming Light: Sailboats under sail without motor will have all of the above except the Masthead Light (or Steaming Light, as it is called on sailboats). If they have the engine on then they are considered a power boat and must display the same lights as a power boat including the Steaming Light.
Anchor Light: White light that shows all-round (a total area of 360 degrees) must be displayed on all boats when anchored or moored away from dock.

Visual Distress Signals

Visual distress signals (VDS's) are required for both day (if recreational boat is 16 foot and over in length) and nighttime signals for all boats operating between sunset and sunrise. Distress signals, such as red flares, universal distress flags, orange smoke, etc., must be aboard all powerboats (and non-motorized sailboats 26 foot in length and over) operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, high seas, or on bodies of water connected directly to them (up to a point where a body of water is less then two miles wide). Also remember, these devices must be current, i.e. not past the expiration date which is printed on each one. The following combinations of signals are examples of VDS's that could be carried on board to satisfy USCG requirements:

- Three hand-held red flares (day and night).
- One hand-held red flare and two red meteors (day and night).
- One hand-held orange smoke signal (day), two floating orange smoke signals (day) and one electric light (night only).

Regulations prohibit the display of VDS's under any circumstances except when assistance is required to prevent immediate or potential danger to persons on board a boat.

Marine Radios

While marine radios are not mandatory on all vessels (please check with your local authorities) they are a worthwhile investment to help in times of distress. As of 1996, most recreational boaters with a marine VHF radio with or without Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capability do not need a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) license if not over 65.6 feet in length and are operating domestically. Domestically means not traveling or transmitting to foreign stations, including Canada. Any vessel that carries a radio must follow the rules of the FCC rules.

The FCC requires operators with DSC capabilities to obtain a Maritime Mobil Service Identity (MMSI) number, it is unlawful to operate a DSC capable radio without it.

Other Required Equipment

-The Navigation Rules require that a recreational boat engaged in diving activities, scuba or snorkeling, during the day exhibit a rigid replica of the international code flag “Alfa” not less then 1 meter (3.3 feet) high. At night, red over white over red 360 degrees lights must be displayed. This requirement does not affect the use of a red and white diver’s flag, which may be required by state or local authorities to mark a diver’s location. The diver’s flag is a rectangular red flag, at least 12’ x 15 inches, with a white diagonal stripe.
- All vessels over 39.6 feet must carry the Navigation Rules publication "COLREGS" aboard.

Discharge of Sewage, Waste and Trash

- If you have a toilet installed you must have an operable Marine Sanitation Device (MSD) on board. It is against Federal law to discharge raw sewage within 3 nautical miles of any shore.
- It is illegal to dump garbage and plastics into state waters or navigable waters of the U.S. - On boats 26 feet and longer must have a durable placard (sign) at least 4 x 9 inches notifying the crew and passengers about discharge restrictions.
- Some types of garbage can be dumped more then 3 nautical miles from shore (see Trash Placard).
- Boats 40 feet and longer with a galley and berth must have a written Waste Management Plan and the Captain of the boat is responsible for implementing the plan.
- Discharge of Oil and Other Hazardous Substances is illegal and may be fined up to $10,000. Boats 26’ feet and longer must have a durable placard (sign) at least 5 x 8 inches fixed in a conspicuous place in the machinery spaces.

Law Enforcement

When boarded for a law enforcement safety inspection, failure to produce any of this equipment could result in a $1,000 fine and/or termination of your voyage. Make sure you have all these items aboard and in good working condition so that you can pass a safety inspection at any time. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron offer FREE Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) to recreational boaters who wish to be sure that their vessel meets all Federal and State equipment requirements. The VSC is not a boarding or law enforcement issue and no citations will be given.