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USCG Minimum Equipment Requirements for Recreational Vessels |
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Boat
Length in Feet |
Less than
16', canoes, kayaks |
16' to
26' (8m) |
26' to
39.4' (12m) |
40' to
65' |
65' to
165' (50m) |
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Personal
Flotation Devices
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One Type
I, II, III, or V per person. PFD's must be CG Approved, wearable by
the intended user and readily accessible |
One Type
I, II, II, or V per person plus one Type IV throw able device. PFD's
must be CG Approved, wearable by the intended user and readily
accessible. The Type IV throw able device must be located such that
it is immediately available. |
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Fire
Extinguishers
No fixed
system |
One B-I
any type. Fire extinguishers required on any boat with enclosed fuel
or engine spaces, enclosed living spaces, or permanent (not movable
by one person) fuel tanks. |
One B-II
or two B-I |
One B-II
and one B-1 or three B-1 |
One to
eight B-II
(Depends
on weight)
Plus
additional requirements in machinery space - for detail specifics
see 46CFR25-30.20 |
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With
fixed system |
No
portables required |
One B-I |
Two B-I
or one B-II |
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Visual
Distress Signals on Coastal Waters |
Night
signals required when operating between sunset and sunrise. |
Minimum
of three day-use and three night-use or three day/night combination
pyrotechnic devices. Non-pyrotechnic substitutes: 1 orange flag
(day-use) and 1 electric S-O-S signal light (night-use) |
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Sound
Producing Devices |
Horn or
whistle recommended to signal intentions or position. Under Rule 33
of the Navigation Rules, boats under 20m MUST have aboard a means of
making an efficient sound. |
Bell no
longer required by Federal Regulations |
One bell
not less than 300mm for boats larger than 20m and one whistle or
horn required to signal intentions or position. |
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Backfire
Flame Arrestors |
One
CG-Approved device on each carburetor of all gasoline-powered
engines built after April 1940, except outboards. Arrestor should be
kept clean to prevent contamination from propagating a flame. |
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Ventilation |
CG-standard powered system required on gasoline-powered vessels with
enclosed engine spaces built after |
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Navigation Lights
Under
power |
Sidelights, stern light, masthead light. Boats 16' or longer must
also have an 360° all-around white anchor light capable of being lit
independently from the red/green/white running lights. Sailboats
under power are considered powerboats and must follow "under power"
rules. |
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Under sail |
Sidelights and stern light. Boats under sail under 20m (65.6 feet)
can substitute a tri-color light for separate sidelights and stern
lights. Sailboats under power are considered powerboats and must
follow "under power" rules. |
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Rowing |
Sailboats
and powerboats under 7m and under 7 knots can substitute a white
lantern in place of the required lights. |
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At Anchor |
All
around white light visible for 2nm at night unless in a
chart-designated anchorage. |
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Visibility range |
1 nm side
lights, 2 nm all others |
3nm
masthead, 2 nm all others |
5nm
masthead, 2nm all others |
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Pollution
Regulations |
"Honor
system", no plaques required. |
5" X 8"
Oil Discharge placard and 4" X 9" MARPOL Trash placards. Vessels
over 39.4' with a galley must have a Waste Management Plan. |
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Marine
Sanitation Devices |
Vessels
with installed head facilities must have an operable CG-Certified
Type I, II, or III Marine Sanitation Device (MSD). Any "Y" value for
discharge overboard must be located in such a manner or affixed to
prevent accidental discharge of untreated waste into water. |
Type II
or III MSD only. |
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Navigation Rules |
Familiarity with the rules is recommended but not required. Boaters
should be familiar with the "Rules of the Road" for crossing and
overtaking situations, as well as meeting other vessels head on. |
Vessels
12m (39.4') or over are required to have a current copy of the USDOT
USCG International - Inland Navigation Rules aboard. |
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