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Federal, State and Local Legal Requirements for Recreation Vessels |
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U.S. Coast Guard Minimum Requirements / Recommendations General (see below for specific requirements by vessel length / class) The following should be viewed as the absolute minimum set of safety related equipment that operators of recreational watercraft should have on their vessels. The items listed are by no means inclusive and vessel owners/operators are responsible for determining what additional items are required to comply with Federal, State and local requirements as well as needed to safely operator their vessel and help ensure the safety of its passengers. For instance, the following items may be required:
Appropriate preparation, planning, forethought and application of common sense are perhaps the most important elements in any nautical outing; however, familiarity with and adherence too some basic guidelines will help ensure your time on the water is safer, more enjoyable and be better prepared if an emergency does arise.
Personal Flotation Devices: One Type I, II, III or V PFD is required for each person on the boat or being towed. Storing lifejackets in a designated clean, dry, well ventilated and easily accessible storage area will keep them in good serviceable condition. A lifejacket that has been crammed into a dirty locker, soaking in dirty bilge water or used as a cushion for an anchor is not an appealing item likely to be used and may not function properly when needed. The ideal place for PFD's when underway is on each person onboard. If they are not going to be worn while underway, prior to getting underway a specific PFD should be assigned to each person, properly adjusted for them and put on by that person to make sure they know how to use it.
Fire Extinguishers: Preventing a fire is the best course of action. So, be sure to store flammable materials away from flame, spark or heat sources and insure that shifting cargo doesn't accidentally activate aerosol spray cans. Fire extinguishers are required on watercraft with enclosed engine compartments, enclosed living spaces, or permanent fuel tanks. A permanently mounted fixed extinguishing system reduces the number of extinguishers required, but does not eliminate the need to carry a appropriate fire extinguisher. Three types of fire extinguishers exist:
Fire extinguishers rated AB can only be used on Class A and B fires, while ones rated ABC can be used on any type of fire. It is strongly recommended that ABC rated extinguishers be carried on vessels. Fire extinguishers are also classified according to volume or weight of extinguishing agent by a number appearing after the type letters. A B-II extinguishers has twice the extinguishing capacity of a B-I.
Lights: When underway between sunset and sunrise, or when visibility is poor, vessels are required to display lights in a distinct pattern recognized by all mariners. Knowing these light patterns in the disorienting absence of depth perception could save your life. Anchor lights are mandatory for boats lying on a hook, and day shapes are to be displayed when anchored, fishing or not under control.
Visual Distress Signals: Visual distress signals alert other people to the fact that you are in trouble and provide a location for rescuers to find you. There are day signals and night signals. Three day and night or three combination day/night signals are required for recreational watercraft over 16 feet, a level wise to exceed considering the duration flares burn and that they can become non-functional. Day Signals: Any kind of smoke on the water is considered a sign of distress. Smoke flares throw off bright orange smoke that is highly visible in daylight hours. An orange flag with a black circle and black square is an internationally recognized day distress signal. Also, a US flag flown up-side-down is universally recognized. A small signal mirror can reflect sunlight in the direction of rescuers to attract their attention. Night Signals: There are three different types of flares available - handheld flares which burn for up to 120 seconds; meteor flares which burn for up to eight seconds at an altitude of 250 to 400 feet; and parachute flares are medium-duration high-altitude signals that reach 1,000 feet in altitude and stay in the air for at least 25 seconds.
The farther offshore, or the larger the body of water, the larger your visual distress arsenal should be.
Sound Producing Device: Every watercraft is required to have a whistle, horn, or other devices capable of making an efficient sound to communicate their intentions when meeting, crossing and overtaking other vessels as well as indicating their position and headway during periods of reduced visibility. Sound producing devices can be manually or propellant activated. Care should be taken with all sound producing devices to avoid damaging the hearing by activating them close to the ears. Propellant activated sound signals should be regularly checked to ensure they haven't lost their sound producing ability. Through a series of long and short blasts, boat operators are able to communicate how they intend to pass each other, if they are going in reverse or are aground, or if the risk of collision exists. The specific sound signals legally required to be made during periods of reduced visibility such as fog, rain, or snow, as well as when maneuvering in close quarters, in crossing, and overtaking situations are specified in the Navigation Rules.
Specific By Vessel Class / Size Class A (Boats less than 16 feet) Flotation Devices One Type I, II, III or V PFD is required for each person on the boat or being towed
Fire Extinguishers
Visual Distress
Signals
Sound Producing Devices Horn, whistle, or any device capable of making an efficient sound signal
Backfire Flame Control Vessels having a gasoline engine are required to have a device called a Back Fire Flame Arrester, a mechanical arrangement which prevents the engine from back firing and/or possibly exploding. Every gasoline engine installed after April 25, 1940, excluding outboard motors, must be equipped with an acceptable means of backfire flame control. Sailboats with an engine are considered a motorboat.
Ventilation The boat operator is responsible for keeping the ventilation systems in operating condition, making sure openings are free of obstructions, ducts are not blocked or torn, blowers are operating properly and worn out components are replaced with equivalent equipment. In addition, a device known as an exhaust blower is required for use with gasoline engines. Since gas vapors are both volatile and heavier than air, they can accumulate to dangerous levels in the bilge of an unventilated boat. The exhaust blower is turned on five minutes before starting the engine to evacuate any residual vapors outside the boat. Diesel engines don't require a blower, since diesel fuel ignites at a higher temperature and is therefore less likely to explode or catch fire from a spark.
Navigation Lights Many states require all sailboats to carry sidelights and a sternlight, but small sailboats (under 23 feet) are not required to do so under the Inland Rules of Navigation. If a small sailboat does not have navigation lights, the Rules require a flashlight or other white flare-up light to be exhibited in sufficient time to avoid a collision.
Class 1 (Boats from 16 to 26 feet) Flotation Devices One Type I, II, III or V PFD is required for each person on the boat or being towed, plus one Type IV throwable device
Fire Extinguishers At least one type B-I fire extinguisher is required
Visual Distress Signals All vessels used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those waters connected directly to them up to the point where a body of water is less than two miles wide, must be equipped with visual distress signals. The following vessels are not required to carry day signals, but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise:
Sound Producing Devices Horn, whistle, or any device capable of making an efficient sound signal
Backfire Flame Control Vessels having a gasoline engine are required to have a device called a Back Fire Flame Arrester, a mechanical arrangement which prevents the engine from back firing and/or possibly exploding. Every gasoline engine installed after April 25, 1940, excluding outboard motors, must be equipped with an acceptable means of backfire flame control. Sailboats with an engine are considered a motorboat. Arresters must be USCG approved.
Ventilation There should be at least two ducts for the purpose of ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and tank, except those having permanently installed tanks which vent outside the boat and contain no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine having a cranking motor must contain power operated exhaust blowers which can be controlled from the instrument panel. The boat operator is responsible for keeping the ventilation systems in operating condition, making sure openings are free of obstructions, ducts are not blocked or torn, blowers are operating properly, and worn out components are replaced with equivalent equipment.
Navigation Lights All sailboats must carry port and starboard sidelights as well as a stern light. A sailboat under sail should not display a masthead light, as this light is shown only by powered machinery. A tricolor masthead light may be used, as may a red over green light at the mast head to denote a sailing vessel, although the two cannot be used simultaneously. When a sailboat is motoring, it is required to exhibit a steaming light.
Class 2 (Boats from 26 to 40 feet) Flotation Devices One Type I, II, III or V PFD is required for each person on the boat or being towed, plus one Type IV throwable device
Fire Extinguishers At least one B-II class approved hand-portable fire extinguisher or at least two B-I class approved hand-portable fire extinguishers are required. If the vessel has a fixed fire extinguishing system, there must be at least one B-I class approved hand-portable fire extinguisher.
Visual Distress Signals All vessels used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas and those water connected directly to them up to the point where a body of water is less than two miles wide, must be equipped with visual distress signals. The following vessels are not required to carry day signals, but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise.
Most boats, and all boats operating in open waters, must be equipped with visual distress signals classified by the US Coast Guard as day or night use only, or a combination day/night use. Each device must be in serviceable condition, readily accessible, and certified by the manufacturer as complying with Coast Guard requirements. Distress flares, smoke flares, and meteor rockets have expiration dates of 42 months after the date of manufacture. In Canada vessels of 18 feet must carry Canadian Coast Guard approved flares according to the length of the vessel, and US Coast Guard flares are not acceptable. These flares are considered effective for 48 months after the date of manufacture.
Sound Producing Devices Horn, whistle, or any device capable of making an efficient sound signal.
Backfire Flame Control Vessels having a gasoline engine are required to have a device called a Back Fire Flame Arrester, a mechanical arrangement which prevents the engine from back firing and/or possibly exploding. Every gasoline engine installed after April 25, 1940, excluding outboard motors, must be equipped with an acceptable means of backfire flame control. Sailboats with an engine are considered a motorboat. Arresters must be USCG approved
Ventilation At least two ducts for the purpose of ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and tank, except those having permanently installed tanks which vent outside the boat and contain no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine having a cranking motor must contain power operated exhaust blowers which can be controlled from the instrument panel. The boat operator is responsible for keeping the ventilation systems in operating condition, making sure openings are free of obstructions, ducts are not blocked or torn, blowers are operating properly and worn out components are replaced with equivalent equipment.
Navigation Lights All sailboats must carry port and starboard side lights as well as a stern light. A sailboat under sail should not display a masthead light as this light is shown only by powered machinery. A tricolor masthead light may be used, as may a red over green light at the mast head to denote a sailing vessel, although the two cannot be used simultaneously. When a sailboat is motoring, it is required to exhibit a steaming light.
Class 3 ( Boats from 39.4 to 65.6 feet) Flotation Devices One Type I, II, III or V PFD is required for each person on the boat or being towed, plus one Type IV throwable device
Fire Extinguishers At least three B-I class approved hand-portable fire extinguishers, or at least one B-I class plus one B-II class approved hand-portable fire extinguisher are needed onboard. If the vessel has a fixed fire extinguishing system, there must be at least two B-I class or at least one B-II approved unit.
Visual Distress Signals All vessels used on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and those water connected directly to them up to the point where a body of water is less than two miles wide, must be equipped with visual distress signals. The following vessels are not required to carry day signals, but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise.
Most boats, and all boats operating in open waters, must be equipped with visual distress signals classified by the US Coast Guard as day or night use only, or a combination day/night use. Each device must be in serviceable condition, readily accessible, and certified by the manufacturer as complying with Coast Guard requirements. Distress flares, smoke flares, and meteor rockets have expiration dates of 42 months after the date of manufacture.
Sound Producing Devices These boats must carry a whistle and bell. The whistle must be audible for 1/2 nautical mile and the mouth of the bell must be at least 200mm in diameter.
Backfire Flame Control Vessels having a gasoline engine are required to have a device called a Back Fire Flame Arrester, a mechanical arrangement that prevents the engine from back firing and/or possibly exploding. Every gasoline engine installed after April 25, 1940, excluding outboard motors, must be equipped with an acceptable means of backfire flame control. Sailboats with an engine are considered a motorboat. Arresters must be USCG approved.
Ventilation At least two ducts for the purpose of ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and tank, except those having permanently installed tanks which vent outside the boat and contain no unprotected electrical devices. Also, engine compartments containing a gasoline engine having a cranking motor must contain power operated exhaust blowers that can be controlled from the instrument panel.
Navigation Lights All sailboats must carry port and starboard sidelights as well as a stern light. A sailboat under sail should not display a masthead light as this light is shown only by powered machinery. A tricolor masthead light may be used, as may a red over green light at the masthead to denote a sailing vessel, although the two cannot be used simultaneously. When a sailboat is motoring, it is required to exhibit a steaming light. |
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Website created and maintained by: W.V. Discenza, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary |
Last Updated: April 20, 2008 18:32 |