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Safety_Equipment_Requirements.pdf

One of the nice things about driving a car is when something goes wrong - flat tire, out of fuel, or the engine quits, you can just pull over to the side of the road and safely get help. That scenario is not so easy to do when boating. Something as simple as running out of fuel or a simple medical emergency can turn life-threatening or at the least ruin what should have been a great day on the water.

Many boaters don’t know that the Coast Guard has a list of requirements that boaters must have on their boats, and it’s much more than a life jacket and flares. But what is required for different size boats? And is there any way a boater can find out that he or she is really in compliance if law enforcement should ever stop them to conduct an inspection? Or worst case, someone is injured on your boat and the equipment you should have had to help was missing. Luckily in our area we have several Coast Guard-approved vessel examiners, individuals who are available to come to your boat's location and conduct a complete vessel safety check. A smart boater will always want to be a safer, knowledgeable boater and have the safest vessel he or she can. 

Let’s look over the minimum requirements for recreational boats. This is the current, up-to-date list of the U.S. Coast Guard’s minimum safety requirements for recreational boats with sizes of up to 65 ft. (19.8m) in size. These requirements detail what boating safety equipment must be present on board, and other necessary features that must be installed to comply with federal laws.

U.S. COAST GUARD MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR RECREATIONAL BOATS

Personal Flotation Devices

For boats smaller than 16 ft (4.9m): One approved Type I, II, III, or V (must be worn) PFD for each person on board or being towed on water skis, tubes, etc.

For boats sized between 16 ft and 65.6 ft (20m): One approved Type I, II, or III PFD for each person on board or being towed on water skis, etc.; and one throwable Type IV device. ( A type V PFD may be used in lieu of any wearable PFD if approved for the activity in which the boat is being used. A TYPE V HYBRID MUST be worn to be legal.)

Note: Check state laws for PFD wearing requirements for children and for certain watercraft and sports. Federal Regulations mandate that states without child life jacket laws require that youths under 13 wear an approved PFD whenever a recreational boat is underway, unless below decks or in a closed cabin. States with existing regulations are not required to alter their status. Make sure you check your state regulations before getting underway with children onboard.

Bells and Whistles

For all boats smaller than 65.6 ft (20m): Every vessel less than 65.6 ft. (20 meters) in length must carry an efficient sound producing device.

For boats larger than 65.6 ft: On Federally controlled waters, every vessel 65.6 ft. (20 meters) or larger in length must carry a whistle and a bell. They must be audible for one nautical mile.

Visual Distress Signals

These visual distress signal requirements only apply for coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and U.S. owned boats on the high seas.

For boats smaller than 16 ft (4.9m): They are required to carry approved visual distress signals for night-time use.

For boats above 16 ft but no greater than 65.6 ft: They must carry approved visual distress signals for both daytime and nighttime use.

Fire Extinguishers

For boats up to 26 ft (7.9m): One B-I type approved hand portable fire extinguisher. (Not required on outboard motorboats less than 26 ft in length if the construction of the motorboat is such that it does not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors, and if fuel tanks are not permanently installed.)

For boats between 26 ft and 40 ft (12.2m): Two B-I type OR one B-II type approved portable fire extinguishers.

For boats between 40 ft and 65.6 ft: Three B-I type OR one B-I type PLUS one B-II type approved portable fire extinguishers are required.

Note: When a fixed fire extinguishing system is installed in machinery spaces it will replace one B-I portable fire extinguisher.

Ventilation

Coast Guard requirements on ventilation differ depending on the date your boat was manufactured. The requirements don’t change depending on the size of your vessel, just the date it was built.

Boats built on or after 8/1/1980: At least two ventilation ducts capable of efficiently ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and/or tank, except those having permanently installed tanks that vent outside of the boat and which contain no unprotected electrical devices.

Engine compartments containing a gasoline engine with a cranking motor are additionally required to contain power-operated exhaust blowers that can be controlled from the instrument panel.

Boats built before 8/1/1980: At least two ventilation ducts fitted with cowls (or their equivalent) for the purpose of efficiently and properly ventilating the bilges of every closed engine and fuel tank compartment using gasoline as fuel or other fuels having a flashpoint of 110 degrees or less. This applies to boats constructed or decked over after April 25, 1940.

Back Fire Flame Arrestor

One approved device on each carburetor of all gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940, except for outboard motors. This regulation applies to all recreational boats.

Navigation Rulebooks

All boats over 40 ft in length must carry an up-to-date copy of the ISDOT ISCG International – Inland Navigational Rules book on board.

Other Things To Consider

It’s worth noting that some states have requirements in addition to the federal requirements. Make sure that you check your state’s boating laws for additional requirements. While these aren’t always mandatory, we’ve put together a short list of things that are essential to keep aboard, no matter what size your boat is.

First Aid Kit

A first aid kit should be kept on board. Make sure it has a selection of band-aids and bandages, as well as a range of medications.

Tools

Keeping tools on your boat can help you out in a bind. Don’t rely on pocket knives and multi-tools; having the right tool for the job will make minor repairs much easier.

VHF Radio

No boat should leave the marina without some kind of practical communication device. While some boaters are confident enough to leave with just a cell phone, a portable VHF radio will be of far more use in an emergency.

So, now that we know this, we as safe boaters should be conducting our own safety checks, making sure of our boat's compliance. But let’s go one step further; as I said earlier, our area has three Coast Guard approved vessel examiners:

Mike Massey with Coast Guard Auxiliary Mike.K.Massey@gmail.com

Rudi Landwaard with Marco Island Power Squadron rlandwaard@aol.com

Paul Soden with Marco Island Yacht Club paul.soden@thompsonhine.com

If you belong to one of the area boating clubs, Marco Island Yacht Club, the Marco Island Power Squadron, or the Marco Cruise Club, just to name a few, you already know that to join in any boating events with your clubs, a current inspection sticker is mandatory. For the rest of you boat owners, take a hint from those club members and get your boat inspected today. And more good news, these inspections are absolutely FREE. And if your boat doesn’t pass the inspection, the inspector will give you all the information you need, so if you decide to call the inspector back for a second FREE inspection, this time your boat will pass with flying colors! One final thing: consider taking a CPR/AED First Aid class again FREE through the Marco Island Fire Rescue Department or the Marco Island Power Squadron. Next month, we will talk about the need for a VHF radio on your boat and the importance of monitoring Channel 16. Remember, safe boating is NO ACCIDENT.