What Safety Equipment Is Required on My Boat?
Last Updated on January 12, 2022
When it comes to safety on the water, there are a lot of gadgets and gizmos that you can buy. But not all of them are necessary. What safety equipment is required on my boat? We’ll find out.
For example, if you have never been sailing before, or only plan to go out on your boat for short trips in calm waters, a radar reflector might be overkill. Likewise, if you live near an area with high traffic volume and lots of boaters around who know what they’re doing and will come to your aid in the event of trouble–you may not need flares at all!
Answering the question on “what safety equipment is required on my boat?” we have highlighted a set of safety items that is recommended for all boats.
Why Safety Equipment Is Important?
It’s easy to think that boats are instantly safe once you get on them and out into the water–but unfortunately, they aren’t.
Boats can sink quickly when hit by a large wave or an especially bad storm; collisions with other vessels can cause damage or even sinking, and waves and water conditions can make it difficult for swimmers to escape in the event of an emergency.
All of these situations require proper safety gear on board–and if you don’t have it, the situation could be fatal.
What Safety Equipment Is Required on My Boat:
Here are 12 safety items you should know about.
1. Personal floatation device (PFD)
Federal law requires any boat operator or passenger 8 years of age or older to wear a PFD. This is one piece of safety equipment you don’t want to swap out for something else. Your PFD is what is going to keep you safe if you fall in the water, so make sure it fits properly and does not have any holes or rips.
2. Visual distress signals
You’ll want a set of flares onboard that are easy for you to use without specific training. There are several different types available; some can be fired into the air while others need to be thrown directly into the water (either way, you should read the instructions carefully).
3. Navigation lights
These are required by federal law and include at least one all-around white light, red lights at both ends of your boat, a green light at the starboard bow, a red light at the port bow, and masthead lights (yellow) visible from 360 degrees around your boat.
4. Horn
A horn is required by law to alert other boats and water users of your presence. Use it to signal a turn or to get the attention of other boaters (if you see them in trouble), so they can alert others to your situation.
5. Fire Ax
Federal regulations require that you have at least one fire extinguisher onboard, but we recommend putting a fire ax in the engine compartment or another location near where people are likely to congregate, such as the galley area–just in case a fire breaks out. Batteries for GPS/Chart Plotter
6. Batteries for GPS/chart plotter
Keep a few extra sets of batteries on hand; you never know when they might go dead while you’re out on the water. This piece of safety equipment will ensure you can get back home if your electronics stop working at sea – especially during a storm or foul weather.
7. Bilge pump
Even if your boat is new, you should have a bilge pump for quick and easy cleanup when water gets spilled into the engine compartment–or anywhere else on your boat, for that matter!
8. Fire extinguisher & smoke detector
Two pieces of safety equipment you don’t want to be without are a fire extinguisher to put out fires, and a smoke detector so you can detect them early. Here’s why having both is important…
9. VHF radio/GMDSS equipment (if applicable)
These pieces of safety equipment help alert other boats to your presence, as well as assist in any emergencies or rescues.
10. VHF antenna
This is a requirement of VHF radio and should be installed at the very top of your boat’s mast so you can receive communication from other boats and authorities when needed.
11. MSDS sheets
Your boat’s engine oil, fuel, paint, and other supplies all have Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) that detail what to do in the event of an emergency. Keep one on hand at all times!
12. First aid kit
The last on the list of “what safety equipment is required on my boat?” is first aid kit. You never know when you’ll need to use it, so keep a first aid kit on hand for minor scrapes, bug bites, and stings. First Aid Kit will help you treat injuries and keep everyone safe.
Safety Equipment That Is Optional on Your Boat:
Radar reflector
There’s no federal law requiring a radar reflector on board, but it can help alert other boaters to your presence to avoid collisions at sea.
It simply bounces the signal from a nearby boat’s radar off itself so the radar can “see” you further out than just the small distance its own antenna will allow for sighting objects.
Additional Tips
To make sure all of your safety gear is properly maintained with no missing pieces, consider doing routine maintenance checks before heading out on a trip.
If you’re heading out on the water in an unfamiliar area, check a few spots and ask local boaters about hazards and dangers that may be present. They can help you to avoid or prepare for hazards like unexpected currents, rocks, sandbars, etc.
Another way to get more safety information is by keeping up with the weather forecast each day before going out on your boat. If rain is coming…you’ll want to make sure all of your electronics are charged up and ready to use!
What Safety Equipment Is Required on My Boat – Conclusion
As you can see, it’s important to have certain safety gear on board your boat at all times. If you’re heading out on a trip, check your boat equipment inventory to make sure everything’s up to date and in working order. Just like with cars, boats have safety equipment they must carry by law.
If you have any other pieces of safety equipment to add, please let us know by adding a comment below.
