U.S. COAST GUARD MINIMUM EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

EQUIPMENT

Boats less than
16 feet

16 to less than 26 feet

26 to less than 40 feet

40 to not more than 65 feet

Personal Flotation Devices (life jackets)

Recreational boats must carry Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Devices, in good and serviceable condition, and of the appropriate size for the intended user. Wearable PFDs must be readily accessible, not stowed in bags, locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them. Throwable devices must be immediately available for use. There must be one Type I, II, III, or V PFD for each person on board or being towed on water skis, etc., PLUS one Type IV throwable device. Throwable, Type IV PFDs may no longer be substituted for wearable types on boats less than 16 feet. State laws on mandatory PFD wear may vary.

Fire Extinguishers (Coast Guard Approved)*

At least one B-1 type (see below) Coast Guard-approved hand portable fire extinguisher. Not required on outboard boats less than 26 feet long and not carrying passengers for hire if the construction of such motorboats will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors, and if fuel tanks are not permanently installed.

At least two B-1 type approved portable fire extinguishes; OR at least one B-2 type.

At least three B-1 type approved portable fire extinguishers; OR at least
one B-1 type PLUS one B-2 type.

Visual Distress Signals

Must carry approved visual distress signals for nighttime use.

Must carry visual distress signals approved for daytime and nighttime use. For pyrotechnic devices (hand-held or aerial red flares, floating or hand-held orange smoke, and launches for aerial red meteors or parachute flares) a minimum of three required, in any combination that totals 3 for daytime and 3 for night use. Three day/night devices will suffice. Devices must be in serviceable condition, dates not expired and stowed accessibly. Exceptions are open sailboats less than 26 feet long and not equipped with propulsion machinery, and manually propelled boats; both required to carry only night signals.

BELL, WHISTLE

Every vessel less that 39.4 feet (12 meters) long must carry an efficient sound-producing device.

Every vessel 39.4 (12 meters) long, but less than 65.6 feet (20 meters) must carry a bell and a whistle.

VENTILATION (boats built after April 25, 1940)

At least two ventilator ducts fitted with cowls or their equivalent for the purpose of properly and efficiently ventilating the bilges of every closed engine and fuel tank compartment of boats constructed or decked over after April 25, 1940, using gasoline as fuel and other fuels having a flashpoint of 110° F or less.

VENTILATION

(boats built after August 1, 1980)

At least two ventilator ducts for the purpose of efficiently ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and every closed compartment containing a gasoline tank, except those having permanently installed tanks vented outside the boat and containing no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine with a cranking motor must contain power-operated exhaust blowers controllable from the instrument panel.

BACKFIRE FLAME ARRESTOR

One approved device on each carburetor of all gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940, except outboard motors. Device must be marked to show compliance with SAE J-1928 or UL 1111 Standards.

* When fixed fire-extinguishing system is installed in machinery spaces, it will replace one B-1 type portable fire extinguisher.