| Equipment Requirements |
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| PFDs, Fire Extinguishers, Horns, Etc. |
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Note: All children 12 and younger must wear a life vest when in a boat underway.
Equipment requirements vary with the size of the boat and its source of power. Type of construction and motor will cause equipment requirements to vary. Motorboats when used in racing and similar activities are generally exempt from whistle, bell, fire extinguisher and muffler requirements. Sailboats with motors, whether inboard or outboard, are considered motorboats. Personal watercraft (PWC) are also considered motorboats. Boats not properly equipped, fine of up to $350.)
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| Sailboats and Manually Propelled Boats... |
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Shall carry the following equipment:
1) Personal flotation devices.
- Boats less than 16 feet in length and all canoes, rafts and kayaks, shall carry one Type I, II or III wearable device of suitable size for each person on board.
- Boats 16 feet and over, except canoes and kayaks, must have one Type I, II or III device of suitable size aboard for each person as well as one type IV throwable device.
- The Type I, II and III devices shall be readily accessible to all persons on board. The Type IV device shall be immediately available for use.
2) Navigation lights (required only when underway or at anchor between sunset and sunrise, and during periods of restricted visibility).
- For manually propelled boats, a lantern showing a white light, to be temporarily exhibited in sufficient time to prevent collision. See Here...
- For sailboats See Here...
- Sound devices: A boat less than39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) must carry a sound signalling device such as a whistle or compressed air horn.
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| Motorboats Less Than 16 Feet in Length |
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Shall carry the following equipment:
1) Personal flotation devices.
- Boats less than 16 feet in length and all canoes, rafts and kayaks, shall carry one Type I, II or III wearable device of suitable size for each person on board.
2) Sound devices: A boat less than39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) must carry a sound signalling device such as a whistle or compressed air horn.
3) One B-I type approved fire extinguisher when no fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in machinery space(s). (Fire extinguishers are not required on outboard motorboats less than 26 feet in length and of open construction.) No B-I type extinguisher is required if an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in machinery space(s).
4) An approved carburetor backfire flame arrestor for inboard motors not exposed to the atmosphere above the gunwhale.
5) An effective muffling system for the exhaust of each internal combustion engine.
6) A ventilation system, the particular type dependent upon when the boat was built.
7) Lights (required only when underway or at anchor between sunset and sunrise, and during periods of restricted visibility).
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| Motorboats 16 Feet to Less Than 26 Feet |
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Shall carry the following equipment:
- One Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of an appropriate size readily accessible for the intended wearer - Type I, II or III wearable for each person on board and one Type IV.
- Sound devices: A boat less than39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) must carry a sound signalling device such as a whistle or compressed air horn.
- One B-I type approved fire extinguisher when no fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in machinery space(s). (Fire extinguishers are not required on outboard motorboats less than 26 feet in length and of open construction, unless the boat has a built-in fuel tank.) No B-I type extinguisher is required if an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in machinery space(s).
- An approved carburetor backfire flame arrestor for inboard motors not exposed to the atmosphere above the gunwhale.
- An effective muffling system for the exhaust of each internal combustion engine.
- A ventilation system, the particular type dependent upon when the boat was built.
- Lights (required only when underway or at anchor between sunset and sunrise, and during periods of restricted visibility).
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| Motorboats 26 Feet to Less Than 40 Feet |
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Shall carry the following equipment:
- One Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of an appropriate size readily accessible for the intended wearer - Type I, II or III wearable for each person on board and one Type IV.
- Sound devices: A boat less than 39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) must carry a sound signalling device such as a whistle or compressed air horn.
- Two B-I type approved portable fire extinguisher or one B-II type approved portable fire extinguisher. When an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed, one less B-I type extinguisher is required.
- An approved carburetor backfire flame arrestor for inboard motors not exposed to the atmosphere above the gunwhale.
- An effective muffling system for the exhaust of each internal combustion engine.
- A ventilation system, the particular type dependent upon when the boat was built.
- Lights (required only when underway or at anchor between sunset and sunrise, and during periods of restricted visibility).
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| Motorboats 40 Feet to Less Than 65 Feet |
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Shall carry the following equipment:
- One Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of an appropriate size readily accessible for the intended wearer - Type I, II or III wearable for each person on board and one Type IV.
- Sound devices: A boat of more than 39 feet 4 inches (12 meters) but less than 65 feet 6 inches (20 meters) must carry on board a whistle and a bell. The whistle and the bell must comply with the existing Federal specifications.
- Three B-I type approved portable fire extinguisher or one B-I type approved portable fire extinguisher plus one B-II type approved portable fire extinguisher. When an approved fixed fire extinguishing system is installed, one less B-I type extinguisher is required.
- An approved carburetor backfire flame arrestor for inboard motors not exposed to the atmosphere above the gunwhale.
- An effective muffling system for the exhaust of each internal combustion engine.
- A ventilation system, the particular type dependent upon when the boat was built.
- Lights (required only when underway or at anchor between sunset and sunrise, and during periods of restricted visibility).
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| Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) |
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For a full description of life jacket types and proper fit, check here.
- All boats must carry at least one U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device/life jacket for every person aboard. Such devices must be in serviceable condition. They must not have any rips, tears or broken straps. All devices must also be kept readily available for use in an emergency situation. Personal flotation devices in a plastic bag or in a storage compartment are not readily available.
- Children age 12 and under must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times while on open deck or cockpit of vessels that are underway. Non-swimmers should always wear PFDs. All devices must be of suitable size if they are designed to be worn. Adult devices do not satisfy legal requirements for children, just as children's devices to not meet flotation requirements for adults.
- Persons being towed are considered on board the towing boat and there must be an approved Type I, II or III PFD aboard for each.
- Each person on board a personal watercraft must wear a Type I, II or III PFD.
- Inflatable PFDs are not approved for children nor high-impact sports such as water skiing or riding personal watercraft. Comfortable and lightweight, inflatable life jackets are more wearable and therefore, expected to save more lives. Manufacturing standards were recently established for inflatables. The U.S. Coast Guard has approved several models that can be carried/worn in lieu of their bulkier counterpart. Boaters considering the purchase of inflatable life jackets should make sure the device has a Coast Guard approval number on the label and that instructions are complied with. Boaters relying on inflatables that are not approved, or, that are not being utilized in accordance with the label, will be considered in non-compliance by law enforcement officers.
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