Required Safety for Boat Equipment
With summer approaching, the time for boat season is near. Boats can have many different uses: pulling water boards and skis; recreational cruising; fishing; speed contest. Whatever a boat is used for, potential risks always follow. The boat's hull can crack and leak, the on-board engine may stall, and then there are boating accidents, like boat collisions and passenger accidents. Because of the risk, the Coast Guard requires certain safety items to be on all boats at all times.
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Specifications
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What type and how many safety devices are required depend on the length of the boat. The size divisions are less than 16 feet, 16 feet to less than 26 feet, 26 feet to less than 40 feet, and 40 feet to less than 65 feet. If over a certain size, in this case 65 feet, a boat is no longer considered a recreational vehicle.
Universal Requirements
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Some safety requirements are the same for any boat size. Engine compartments in the boat's bilge, which contain noxious chemicals or gasoline, must have faces with slats or cowls for ventilation if the boat was built before August 1, 1980. A back-fire flame arrestor (a device installed on gasoline engines that prevents flames from coming out of the exhaust pipe when the engine backfires) is necessary on any onboard engine carburetor installed after April 25, 1940.
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Less Than 16 Feet
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One personal flotation device (PFD) is required for each person. The type of PFD can be I, II, III, or V. The PFD label will state what type the device is. Some type of device or alarm that can emit a loud sound is required. Flares or reflective signals that are visible in the dark are required. A hand-held fire extinguisher must be onboard.
16 Feet to Less Than 26 Feet
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A PFD of type I, II, III, or V for each person, plus a type IV PFD that can be thrown overboard, is needed onboard. A sound emitting alarm is required. Flare and warning signals for the day and night are required onboard. A hand-held extinguisher is required onboard.
26 feet to Less Than 40 Feet
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A type I, II, III, or V PFD for each person, and one type IV throwable PFD, are required onboard. A naval whistle and bell, both of which should be heard from at least one nautical mile, must be onboard. Day and night warning signals or flares are required. There must be either two B-I fire extinguishers, or one B-II fire extinguisher onboard.
40 Feet to Less Than 65 Feet
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A PFD of type I, II, III, or V for each person, plus a type IV PFD that can be thrown overboard, is needed onboard. A naval whistle and bell, both of which should be heard from at least one nautical mile, must be onboard. Day and night warning signals or flares are required. Either three B-I or one B-I plus one B-II type fire extinguishers are required onboard.
Considerations
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These are requirements by the Coast Guard for all U.S. waters, but, a state may have more or less regulations. All fire extinguishers must be Coast Guard approved.
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References
- Photo Credit boat image by pearlguy from Fotolia.com
