i need to know what u have to carry on a boat to make it legal like flares,whistle etc. i need to know cuz i plan on takein the boat out as soon as i can ive looked all over the internet to find it and i cant find it
Boat Construction Resources and Suppliers
Life preservers (for each person) , flares and fire extinguisher. The license on the boat has to be current too.
In this state, it depends on the size of the boat about flares, & signal horns & fire extinguishers but you do need flotation devices & an approved “throw ” device. The Secretary of State office has all the information for boats ( in this state )
Varies from place to place but here’s the Aussie list:
Life jacket for each person aboard
Flares
Anchor with attached rope
Paddles/oars
EPIRB
Bailing bucket
Fire extinguisher
Hope this list helps, good boating.
The answer depends on the size of your boat and your location.
In general, a life jacket for each person, that fits them. A throwable. A dewatering device that can be a can. flares, whistle, fire extinguisher, mounted.
As the boat is larger, more things are required. gasoline engines require a flame arrestor.
The very first thing you need is a boat license. To get that, you need to have successfully completed a boat safety course and passed the test.
If you had done that. . . You would know the answer to your question already.
The USCG determines the requirements for safety items you must have on your boat – and that is determined by your boat including: sail or power, length, location and usage.
Happy & Safe Boating,
John
PS. the link below will take you to a “boat safety” site – you can search for your State, and then find what you need to do to be both legal & safe.
Personal Flotation Devices:
– Boats less than 16ft: One approved Type I, II, III or V (must be worn) PFD for each person on board or being towed on water skis, tubes, etc.
– 16 to not more than 65 ft: One approved Type I, II or III PFD for each person on board or being towed on water skis, etc. ; and one throwable Type IV device. ( A type V PFD may be used in lieu of any wearable PFD if approved for the activity in which the boat is being used. A TYPE V HYBRID MUST be worn to be legal. )
Bell, Whistle
– Every vessel less than 65. 6 ft. (20 meters) in length must carry an efficient sound producing device.
– On Federally controlled waters, every vessel 65. 6 ft. (20 meters) or larger in length must carry a whistle and a bell. They must be audible for 1 nautical mile.
Visual Distress Signals (Coastal Waters, the Great Lakes & U. S. owned boats on the high seas)
– Boats less than 16ft: Required to carry approved visual distress signals for night-time use.
– 16 to not more than 65 ft: Must carry approved visual distress signals for both daytime and night-time use.
Fire Extinguisher (Must be Coast Guard approved)
– Boats 16ft to less than 26ft: One B-I type approved hand portable fire extinguisher. (Not required on outboard motorboats less than 26 ft in length if the construction of the motorboat is such that it does not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors, and if fuel tanks are not permanently installed. )
– 26 to less than 40 ft: Two B-I type OR one B-II type approved portable fire extinguishers.
– 40 to not more than 65 ft: Three B-I type OR one B-I type PLUS one B-II type approved portable fire extinguishers.
Ventilation (Boats built on or after 8/1/80)
– Boats 16ft to not more than 65 ft: At least two ventilation ducts capable of efficiently ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and/or tank, except those having permanently installed tanks that vent outside of the boat and which contain no unprotected electrical devices. Engine compartments containing a gasoline engine with a cranking motor are additionally required to contain power operated exhaust blowers that can be controlled from the instrument panel.
Ventilation (Boats built before 8/1/80)
– Boats 16ft to not more than 65 ft: At least two ventilation ducts fitted with cowls (or their equivalent) for the purpose of efficiently and properly ventilating the bilges of every closed engine and fuel tank compartment using gasoline as fuel or other fuels having a flash-point of 110 degrees or less. Applies to boats constructed or decked over after April 25, 1940.
Back-fire Flame Arrestor
– Boats 16ft to not more than 65 ft: One approved device on each carburetor of all gasoline engines installed after April 25, 1940, except outboard motors.
These are federal requirements, each state may or may not have its own requirements. It is best to check on a state by state basis. Hope this helps answer your question!