Safety Equipment


Life Preservers (Personal Flotation Devices):
Small boats, less than 16 feet in length, need only a Untied States Coast Guard approved PFD on board for each passenger.
Larger boats, 16 feet or longer, must have a "wearable" (Type I, Type II, or Type III PFD designed to be worn) for each person on board. The vessel must also be equipped with a Type IV "throwable" PFD (a device to be thrown to a peson overboard). U.S.C.G. approved Type IV PFD's are of the "ring" or "seat cushion" varieties.
By law, PFS's mustbe "readily accessible" and "immediately available". Hand a PFD to each crew member as they board your vessel.
PFD's must be "serviceable". Ensure that all straps, labels, seams and flotation pieces are in good working order. Look at the label and make sure that the PFD is sized for the intended wearer.

Fire Extinguishers:
If a vessel of any length is constructed as to trap gasoline vapors, it must be equipped with a U.S.C.G. approved fire extinguisher. Boats less than 26 feet need only one B I fire extinguisher. Boats longer than 26 feet more B I or B II fire extinguishers. Be safe, you can get a larger one for extra safety. Be sure that it is serviceable and accessible.
Most boat fires happen after refueling. Run the blower and do a sniff test before you re-start the engine. Keep the backfire flame arrester clean.

Registration Numbers:
Motorists are given a plate already made. We skippers must make our own, which can result in a vessel improperly numbered.
Any boat that has an electric or gasmotor, or any other type of propulsion machinery, must be registered. Sailboats 12 feet or over in length must also be registered.
Letters must be block letters at least 3" high. The letters must read from left to right. The characters must be of a contrasting color. 3" spaces must separate prefixes, suffixes, numbers and the registration decal (placed at far right). The characters must be on the forward half of the vessel as high out of the water line as practical.

Lights and Horns:
Lights are required on motorboats between sunset & sunrise and during periods of low visibility. Anchored motorboats need only display a white aft light. Anchored rowboats need only display a white lantern to prevent collision.
Horns are required on vessels 16 feet or longer and for all motorboats to use for the rules of the road.