| Federal
Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats |
|
|
| Vessel
Length (in feet) |
Equipment |
Requirement |
| <16 |
16<26 |
26<40 |
40<65 |
|
|
| X |
X |
X |
X |
Certificate
of Number
(State Registration) |
All
undocumented vessels equipped with propulsion machinery must be State
registered. Certificate of Number must be on board when vessel is in use.
Note: some States require all vessels to be registered. |
| X |
X |
X |
X |
State
Numbering |
(a) Plain Block letters/numbers not less than
3 inches in height must be affixed on each side of the forward half of
the vessel (Contrasting color to boat exterior).
(b) State validation sticker must be affixed
within six inches of the registration number |
| |
X |
X |
X |
Certificate
of Documentation |
Applies
only to "Documented" vessels: (a) Original
and current certificate must be on board
(b) Vessel name/hailing port marked on exterior
part of hull -- letters not less than 4 inches in height.
(c) Official Number permanently affixed on
interior structure -- numbers not less than 3 inches in height. |
| X |
X |
X |
X |
Life
Jackets (PFDs) |
(a) One Type I, II, III, or V wearable PFD for
each person on board. (must be USCG approved) |
| |
X
|
X
|
X
|
(b) In addition to paragraph (a), must carry
One Type IV (throwable) PFD. |
| X |
X |
X |
X |
Visual
Distress Signal (VDS) |
(a) One electric distress light
or Three combination (day/night) red flares.
Note: only required to be carried on board when operating between sunset
and sunrise.
(b) One orange distress flag and One electric distress light
- or -Three hand-held or floating orange smoke signals and One electric
distress light - or - Three combination (day/night) red flares: hand-held,
meteor or parachute type. |
| Vessel
Length (in feet) |
Equipment |
Requirement |
| <16 |
16<26 |
26<40 |
40<65 |
|
|
| X |
X |
X |
|
Fire
Extinguishers |
(a) One B-I (when enclosed
compartment)
(b) One B-II or Two B-I. Note: fixed system equals One B-I
|
| |
X |
(c) One B-II and One B-I or
Three B-I. Note: fixed system equals One B-I or Two B-II |
| X |
X |
X |
X |
Ventilation |
(a)
All vessels built after 25 April 1940 that use gasoline
as their fuel with enclosed engine and /or fuel tank compartments must
have natural ventilation (at least two ducts fitted with cowls).
(b) In addition to paragraph (a), a vessel built after
31 July 1980 must have rated power exhaust blower. |
| X |
X |
X |
|
Sound
Producing Devices |
(a)
A vessel 39.4 ft must, at a minimum, have some means of
making an "efficient" sound signal - (i.e. handheld air horn, athletic
whistle - Human voice/ sound not acceptable). |
| X |
X |
(b)
A vessel 39.4 ft (12 meters) or greater, must have a sound
signaling appliance capable of producing an efficient sound signaI, audible
for 1/2 mile with a 4 to 6 seconds duration. In addition, must carry on
board a bell with a clapper (bell size not less than 7.9 inches - based
on the diameter of the mouth) |
| X |
X |
X |
X |
Backfire
Flame Arrestor |
Required
on gasoline engines installed after 25 April 1940, except outboard motors
|
| X |
X |
X |
X |
Navigational
Lights |
Required
to be displayed from sunset to sunrise and in or near areas of reduced
visibility. |
| |
|
X |
X |
Oil
Pollution Placard |
(a) Placard must be at least
5 by 8 inches, made of durable material.
(b) Placard
must be posted in the machinery space or at the bilge station.
|
| |
|
X |
X |
Garbage
Placard |
(a) Placard must be at least
4 by 9 inches, made of durable material.
(b) Displayed
in a conspicuous place notifying all on board the discharge restrictions.
|
| X |
X |
X |
X |
Marine
Sanitation Device |
If
installed toilet: Vessel must have an operable MSD TypeI, II, or III. |
| |
|
X |
X |
Navigation
Rules
(Inland Only) |
The
operator of a vessel 39.4 ft (12 meters) or greater must have on board
a copy of these rules. |
| |
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