Coast Guard Required Boating Gear
When it comes to boating, safety is paramount. But how do you know which safety items are essential or just nice to have in a case of emergency? To be sure, investing in boating safety gear can get costly, but the price is small in comparison to injuries or lost lives. When outfitting your boat, prioritize the essential boating safety gear first, then move on to the other non-essential, but nice to have items.
Essential Boating Safety Gear
The essential boating safety gear includes all the items boaters are required to carry by the U.S. Coast Guard by boat size. Not all boats are required to carry certain items, but here is a list of items that boats of all sizes are required to carry:
Life Jackets
One Type III Coast Guard approved jacket for each person on board must be within reach while underway at all times. Children 13 and under are required to wear a life jacket.
Visual Distress Signal
Visual distress signals, also called flares, are deployed during emergencies to signal distress to nearby boaters and emergency personnel. The Coast Guard requires one of the following: one orange distress flag and electric distress light; or three hand-held or floating orange smoke signals and one electric distress light; or three day/night red flares that are hand-held, meteor or parachute type.
These are only the minimum requirements. A good practice to follow would be to carry an electric distress light, a distress flag, orange smoke signals and day/night red flares. Each flare is beneficial in different situations and if something has happened while boating that requires a distress signal, getting the attention of a fellow boater or a person on land is critical.
All flares have expiration dates, so be sure to replace yours before that date, disposing of your old ones in the proper manner. Do not ever shoot off old flares, instead check with your local Coast Guard station or boating safety agency for proper disposal.
Fire Extinguisher
Perhaps nothing is more frightening aboard a boat than a fire. All boats should carry at least one marine Type USCG B – I fire extinguisher, but boats larger than 16 feet are required by the Coast Guard to have one on board if there is an inboard engine, enclosed compartments where combustible materials are stored, closed living spaces or permanently installed fuel tanks. Boats than 26 feet or larger are allowed to carry two to three Type USCG B – II fire extinguishers.
Be sure to properly maintain the charge of the fire extinguisher by inspecting it often and having it recharged when the gauge falls into the red.
Sound Producing Device
Sound carries over water very efficiently, so being able to make a sufficient sound to attract attention can aid in a speedy rescue. Bells, whistles and air horns make ideal sound producing devices and meet the Coast Guard requirements. The boat’s horn is also sufficient, however it is always a good idea to carry another sound signal that is independent of the vessel itself. If you opt for an air horn, check it periodically to be sure it is full.
Shurhold Paddle
Although not required by the U.S. Coast Guard
For more information about the Coast Guard Safety Requirements, visit www.uscgboating.org.
by Ericka Watson
Ericka began her career in the U.S. Coast Guard where she learned expert boating and seamanship skills as a certified Coxswain of a 47′ Motor Life Boat and high-speed small boats. As a Coxswain, she led search-and-rescue and law enforcement operations in the Puget Sound and during Operation Enduring Freedom in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After six years, she left the Coast Guard and is now an award-winning writer who currently writes about boating related topics as the Guide to Powerboating for About.com.
