Safety
Lifesaving Devices
-All Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) must be U.S. Coast Guard approved, in serviceable condition, readily accessible, and of the appropriate size for intended user. See Life Jackets for more details on PFD types. -All children under 13 years of age in motorboats under 26 feet in length must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while underway. Underway means not at anchor, made fast to the shore, or aground. -Vessels 16 feet and longer, excluding canoes and kayaks, are required to be equipped with one Type IV throwable PFD in addition to the Type I, II, III, or V PFD required for each person on board. -Inflatable PFDs are authorized only when used in accordance with requirements as presented on U.S. Coast Guard approval labels. Inflatable PFDs are not approved for use on personal watercraft, waterskiing, or other high speed activity.
Sound Producing Devices
-Any vessel less than 12 meters in length (39.4 ft.) is required to carry a whistle or horn, or some other means to make an efficient sound to signal intentions and position in periods of reduced visibility. -Vessels 12 meters or more in length are required to carry a whistle or horn, and a bell.
Lights Required
All vessels including motorboats, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, punts, rowboats, rubber rafts, or other vessels when not at dock must have and exhibit at least one bright light, lantern or flashlight visible all around the horizon from sunset to sunrise in all weather and during restricted visibility.
Navigation Lights
Manually Driven Vessels when Paddled, Poled, Oared or Windblown -A sailing vessel of less than 20 meters (65.6 ft.), while underway shall exhibit sidelights and a sternlight which may be combined in one lantern carried at or near the top of the mast where it can best be seen. -A sailing vessel of less than 7 meters (23 ft.) shall, if practicable, exhibit the sidelights and a sternlight, or shall exhibit at least one bright light, lantern or flashlight from sunset to sunrise when not at dock. -All other manually driven vessels may exhibit sidelights and a sternlight, or shall exhibit at least one bright light, lantern, or flashlight from sunset to sunrise when not at dock. In vessels of less than 12 meters (39.4 feet), white lights shall be visible at a distance of at least two (2) miles. Colored lights shall be visible at a distance of at least one (1) mile. "Visible" when applied to lights, means visible on dark nights with clear atmosphere.
Sailboats are considered motorboats when operated under power, and must include the same safety equipment listed above.
Fire Extinguishers Required
A fire extinguisher is required if one or more of the following conditions exist: (1) Closed compartment under thwarts and seats wherein portable fuel tanks may be stored. (2) Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation material. (3) Closed living spaces. (4) Closed storage compartments in which combustible or flammable materials are stored. (5) Permanently installed fuel tanks. (6) Inboard engines.
U.S. Coast Guard approved extinguishers are identified by the following marking on the label: "Marine Type USCG approved, Size .... Type ::::, 162.028/.../" Check extinguishers annually to assure that they are properly charged.
NOTE: All fire extinguishers must be readily accessible and in condition for immediate and effective use at all times.
Fire extinguishers approved for motorboats are hand-portable, of either B (for gasoline, oil & grease fires) or BC (also extinguishes electrical fires) classification. The number of approved extinguishers required depends upon the class of the motorboat. When the engine compartment of the motorboat is equipped with a fixed (built-in) extinguishing system of an approved type, one less B-I extinguisher is required.
26' to less than 40' 2 B-I or 1 B-II with a non-fixed system or 1 B-I with a fixed system
Visual Distress Signals
Vessels on federally-controlled waters or on Massachusetts coastal waters must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard–approved visual distress signals. All vessels, regardless of length or type, are required to carry night signals when operating between sunset and sunrise. Most vessels must carry day signals also; exceptions to the requirement for day signals are:
-Recreational vessels that are less than 16 feet in length -Non-motorized open sailboats that are less than 26 feet in length -Manually-propelled vessels
VDSs must be U.S. Coast Guard–approved, in serviceable condition, and readily accessible.
If pyrotechnic VDSs are used, a minimum of three must be carried in the vessel.
The following combinations of signals are examples of VDSs that could be carried on board to satisfy U.S. Coast Guard requirements:
-Three handheld red flares (day and night) -One handheld red flare and two red meteors (day and night) -One handheld orange smoke signal (day), two floating orange smoke signals (day), and one electric light (night only)
It is prohibited to display visual distress signals while on the water unless assistance is required to prevent immediate or potential danger to persons on board a vessel.
Non-Pyrotechnic Visual Distress Signals
Electric Light (1) Night Signal
Orange Flag (1) Day Signal
Arm Signal Although this signal does not meet VDS equipment requirements, wave your arms to summon help if you do not have other distress signals on board.
-The distress flag is a day signal only. It must be at least 3 x 3 feet with a black square and ball on an orange background. -The electric distress light is accepted for night use only and must flash the international SOS distress signal automatically.
