Saving the Day: Boat Safety Equipment and Supplies

“I thought you said you made sure enough life jackets were loaded.”

“The emergency signaling device won’t turn on? We’re in big trouble!”

“What happened to the first-aid kit? It’s not where it’s supposed to be!”

“We have a fire, and the fire extinguisher isn’t working!”

These are the types of statements that put fear in a person’s heart because it means the vessel and its occupants were not prepared for a boating accident or emergency. Each year, boat owners get in trouble on the water or while still at the marina because they are unprepared to handle an emergency, often because adequate boat safety equipment is not on the boat, or the equipment is not working when needed most.

In the following sections, we size the safety issue, give an overview of the laws on minimum safety equipment requirements, review the types of required and optional safety equipment and supplies and deliver a short lecture on safety (yes, it has to be done after seeing the numbers).

The critical question is this: Are you prepared for a variety of possible emergency situations on or involving your boat?

Sizing the Safety Issue

The 2019 statistics on boating accidents are grim. Following are some of them per the United States Coast Guard:

  • 4,168 boat accidents occurred
  • 613 people died in boating accidents
  • 2,559 people were injured in boating accidents
  • Failure of boat or boat equipment accounted for 379 accidents, 28 deaths and 279 injuries
  • The type of body of water accounting for most accidents is lakes, ponds, reservoirs, dams and gravel pits, followed by rivers, streams, creeks, swamps and bayous
  • These two sets of bodies of water accounted for 71% of injuries

The types of accidents or emergency situations were quite varied. They included:

  • Collisions
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Collision with a fixed or floating object or another boat
  • Ejected from vessel
  • Electrocution
  • Fall in vessel or overboard
  • Fuel fire or explosion
  • Flooding or swamping
  • Grounding
  • Person struck by propeller or a vessel
  • Sinking
  • Skier mishap
  • Sudden medical condition

There are a few more important statistics to keep in mind. One is that every length of boat from 6-feet to over 65-feet were involved in boating accidents. Only the 5-foot boats showed zero accidents. It might be because there were none, but it’s more likely they weren’t officially reported. If you think most of the accidents happened in rough water, you need to know that 58% of the accidents happened on calm waters and 26% occurred on choppy waters. Almost 73% took place during the day while visibility was good.

The conclusion is that boating accidents can happen at any time, on any type of water, in any weather condition and involve any size of boat. The topic of boating safety equipment and supplies applies to every boat without exception. Even the 5-foot boat needs a small first-aid kit under the seat for those times the rusty fish hook gets caught in a finger.

Ouch! Definitely have the t-shirt for that event.

It’s the Law

“Boats in the harbor are safe but that is not what they are meant for,” said Zig Ziglar. That’s true. Boats are for enjoyment, but the moment they leave the marina, safety issues can arise. A safety saying from the early 1900s goes like this, “Do not think because an accident hasn’t happened to you that it can’t happen.”

There are federal and state requirements for recreational boats. The federal requirements are minimum requirements applicable to all boaters. In addition, the boat owner must adhere to state safety requirements. These vary by state, but they are similar. Since safety requirements are different from state to state, the discussion will focus on federal minimum requirements.

One of the first requirements is ensuring the boat is properly registered and has a state Certificate of Number and Vessel documentation with the U.S. Coast Guard. There are requirements for proper display of the numbers which are intended to make it easy for the Coast Guard or other rescue vehicles to identify the boat. You also need the name of the boat and the hailing port posted together on the hull. For your own safety, ensure the lettering and validation stickers are always in good condition. Your marine supplier can provide new lettering and numbers whenever there is a need to replace them.

The United States Coast Guard has set the minimum required safety equipment that must be on the boat. Required safety equipment is called the carriage requirement. It is important you know that:

  • Required equipment must be U.S. Coast Guard approved of certified
  • Regulations describe the required equipment, stowage, requirements for specific activities (i.e. water skiing or sailboarding) and more
  • Many minimum requirements are based on boat length
  • Safety requirements include knowing how to use the equipment, understanding operating procedures for the boat and knowing how to interpret navigation aids
  • Safety requirements also include knowing the proper way to report a boating accident
  • There are regulations for rendering assistance and requesting assistance
  • Sailboats operating under engine power are classified as power-driven and must follow the “Under Power” rules

Safety Equipment by Any Other Name is Still Safety Equipment

Safety equipment can be divided into four groups. Some of the equipment is required by the U.S. Coast Guard and some is boat safety equipment you should have on board in order to be as prepared as possible.

1. Minimum required or recommended portable equipment – There are safety items you must have on your boat. The U.S. Coast Guard has established the requirements by boat length. However, some of the equipment is required no matter what size boat you have, like personal flotation devices (PFDs). Following are the minimum requirements for portable equipment:

  • Personal flotation devices – required on all vessels; must have one Type I (off-shore), II (near-shore buoyancy), III (flotation aid) or V (special-use device) per person; the type IV is a throwable device, and there are none that are Coast Guard approved
  • Fire extinguishers – required on all vessels with enclosed engine compartments, enclosed living spaces or permanently installed fuel tanks; the U.S. Coast Guard approved fire extinguishers have a B-I or B-II classification and must have a mounting bracket (don’t stick it in a cabinet where it gets covered by other stuff)
  • Visual distress signals - required on all vessels; the type of signal required depends on the length of the boat; includes pyrotechnic devices, orange distress flag and an electric distress light for night-use only
  • Sound producing devices – devices (horns and whistles) for signaling intentions and position; recommended for boats up to 40-feet long and required for boats over 40-feet long; should be able to produce a 4-second blast that can be heard at least one-half mile
  • Marine sanitation device (MSD) – operable Coast Guard certified Type I, II or III MSD required for vessels with installed toilet facilities
  • Pollution regulation placards – for boats 26-feet or longer, must have an Oil Discharge placard and a Waste Discharge placard; for boats 40-feet of longer with galley, there must also be a Waste Management Plan
  • Copy of the Inland Navigation Rules – called the “Rules of the Road,” they contain the information a boater needs to safely navigate waters; for boats 40-feet or longer, the Inland Navigation Rules must be kept on board

2. There are requirements for installed equipment on a boat.

  • Backfire flame arrestor – A U.S. Coast Guard approved device must be installed on each carburetor of all gasoline-powered engines built after August 1980, with the exception of outboard motors
  • Ventilation system – a U.S. Coast Guard standard ventilation system is required on any vessel that is gasoline-powered and has an enclosed engine compartment built after August 1980
  • Navigation lights – required if the boat is operated between sunset and sunrise; requirements depend on boat length, but basic rules include side lights, a stern light and a masthead light; rowed or paddled vessels can use an electric torch, flashlight or lantern that has a white light
  • Anchor lights – if anchoring at night, an anchor light is required that is all-round and visible for at least 2 nautical miles
  • Day shapes – mast head signals are visual indications of a boat’s status while sailing, anchored or aground; day shapes are a set of four shapes – ball, cone, cylinder and diamond; per the Navigation rules, dive boats experiencing a restriction in maneuverability (like a diver is in the water) must display the appropriate day shape which is a ball/diamond/ball or lights; a vessel under sail or power would display a cone while an anchored boat would display a ball, etc.; rules are based on the ColRegs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea)

3. Electronic devices that contribute to safety.

There is a myriad of marine electronic devices sold today that contribute to boating safety. Following is a sample of these devices with each performing a unique duty.

  • Marine VHF-FM radio and/or HF transceivers (channel 16 is the primary distress channel)
  • Satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) – part of a worldwide distress system for use in situations when lives are at risk
  • Global Positioning System (GPS) – mounted or handheld
  • Depth finder (may or may not be a fishfinder too)
  • Chart plotter - uses GPS to pinpoint location and identify potential hazards
  • Weather information marine receiver
  • Floating personal locator beacon
  • All-in-one safety and communications unit that includes VHF radio operation, digital selection calling, automatic identification system, wi-fi communications; communicates with a dedicated handset or smartphone app
  • Radar system that provides 360-degree sweeps for collision avoidance
  • Bow mounted cameras that are infrared for detecting hazards or dangers at night

As mentioned, this is just a sample of the great electronic items available today. Technology is rapidly changing the world of boat electronics. Each year, new electronics are put on the market and do remarkable things with greater precision.

4. Other useful tools and supplies for safety.

The following items are tools and boat supplies that contribute to boating safety. Some are small and simple, like a flashlight, but can make an enormous difference when the boat’s electrical system fails or there is a need to do emergency engine work so you can put-out back to the marina or to shore.

  • Nautical charts
  • Paddles or oars
  • Knives that can cut marine rope or remove fishing line from a prop
  • Inflatable life rafts
  • Immersion suits (slows the chances of hypothermia in cold water)
  • Spare propeller (and do not forget spare cotter pins too!)
  • Magnetic compass
  • Boat hook
  • Fenders to prevent damage to the hull
  • Bailing device or manual bilge pump
  • Spare parts – plugs, belts, fuses, etc.
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Search light
  • First aid kit
  • Binoculars
  • Cellphone
  • Distress flags, like a diver down flag or skier flag (some states require these flags)
  • Spare can of air if you have a portable air horn
  • Electronic flare
  • Extra braided mooring marine rope
  • Signal mirror
  • Boat hook
  • Floating vest lanyard (attaches to the kill switch and the flotation vest for when the skipper takes a spill)

Always Safety First

Upon request, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadrons will perform a Vessel Safety Check (VSC). These are volunteer organizations. The safety check will include ensuring the minimum safety equipment is on board and working, numbers are properly displayed, boat is in good water-worthy condition, the Navigation Rules book is on hand (how many boaters out there don’t know “red, right, returning”?) and so much more.

Whether or not you take advantage of the VSC (and we hope you do), each boater owner should always check some things before heading out on the water. Following are some examples:

  • There are five types of life jackets, and one type is inflatable. The inflating element should be regularly checked to ensure it is intact. All life jackets should be regularly inspected to ensure seams are secure, there are no tears and the clasping devices work properly.
  • Pyrotechnic devices have an expiration date, so need replacing periodically.
  • Fire extinguishers have expiration dates and should be replaced when expired, whether or not it has been used (this is no time to skimp on spending money). You should also check for broken seals, tamper indicators, that pressure gauges read in the operable range and indications of any leakage, rust, corrosion or any other signs of decay.
  • The ventilation system must be religiously checked to ensure there are no obstructions in any of the openings; no blockage in the exhaust openings or ducts; blowers work properly and any other components are in good condition.
  • Make sure your navigation lights work because they will not do you any good when the sun sets if the lights remain dark. (If you have ever suddenly come across a boat with inoperable navigation lights at night, you had a heart-stopping experience!)
  • Keep the marine sanitation device in operable condition.
  • Make sure your whistle signals work because short blasts are required in certain situations to help avoid dangerous collisions, i.e. meeting another vessel head-on or overtaking another boat, etc.
  • Regularly schedule maintenance inspections of engine and exhaust systems to prevent carbon monoxide build up, i.e. keep the engine tuned up, check rubber exhaust hoses, ensure cooling water flows properly from the exhaust outlet, check the exhaust system for rust, water leaks, black streaks, cracked fittings, corrosion, etc.

As you can see, boating safety depends heavily on having the proper boat safety equipment on board plus maintaining your boat’s systems and engine. There are no shortcuts to safety.

Carefulness Costs Nothing

This discussion doesn’t pretend to cover everything about boating safety, but it’s a good start. The U.S. Coast Guard publishes an online guide to boating safety titled, A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats. This is a document that every boater should print and read. It is important to remember that each state also has safety requirements for boating. Many of these regulations add additional requirements to the federal rules.

Of course, boat safety equipment is easily fortified with boat owner responsible behavior. Many of the boating injuries and accidents were avoidable. The boats had all the required equipment, but the skipper drank too much alcohol or didn’t know the navigation rules around buoys or thought “one night trip without working running lights won’t hurt.”

This is not going to turn into a lecture. It is just a reminder that using common sense plays a big role in safe boating. Trying to shortcut the rules often leads to disaster. The last thing you want is for your boat to break down, only to discover the VHF radio doesn’t work, or for someone to fall overboard without a life vest on because none of them fit properly. It’s really amazing how many boating accidents or just panic situations could be avoided with the right boat safety equipment and appreciation for the boating safety rules.

Well…maybe this did turn into a short lecture. Another safety quote from the early 1900s says, “Carefulness costs you nothing. Carelessness may cost you your life.”

Mariner Exchange is a mobile application that can guide every boat owner to marine mechanics and marine suppliers who sell boat safety equipment. You can find plenty of help with ensuring your boating trips are fun and safe.

Safe boating to all!