Must Have Boating Equipment

Must Have Boating Equipment

Don't Leave the Dock Without It!

With the boating season just around the corner for many of us and already here for other folks around the country, it’s time to make sure your boat is really ready for a great season of boating fun. After polishing your hull , applying a new coat of bottom paint and getting the engine up and running, it’s a good time to check all your other equipment as well.

With that in mind, here is a list of equipment that is required on board motorized vessels in U.S. waters. However, safety equipment requirements vary from country to country, so boaters need check the requirements of the country where they plan to do their boating. All that being said, any “good” skipper, anywhere, will have the following equipment/items on board his boat anyway.



• Owner’s/ Ship’s Documents:

Carry either State registration or documentation papers.
Since 9-11, the U.S. Coast Guard is also going to ask you to produce a pictured identification card, such as a driver’s license.



• PFDs:

PFDs (Personal Floatation Devices) are life jackets and you must have one for every person on board and they MUST fit properly to be effective. An adult sized life jacket for a child is NOT acceptable. An improper fitting child’s life jacket may end up drowning the child instead of saving its life!



• Throwable Flotation Device:

An example of a throwable flotation device would be a life ring or a flotation cushion, one of those with the two straps, etc. All vessels 16 ft. and over must have one or more of these aboard.



• Fire Extinguisher:

A Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher must be aboard any boat that has an engine in an enclosed space or a fuel tank that is in a compartment. The needle in the gage on the extinguisher must be pointing to the green area of the dial. The larger the boat, the more fire extinguishers/fire suppression systems you are required to have.



• Visual Distress Signals:

Visual distress signals are required for both day and nighttime sightings. Distress signals, such as red flares, universal distress flags, orange smoke, etc., must be aboard all powerboats operating in federally controlled waters. Also remember, these devices must be current, i.e. not past the expiration date which is printed on each one.



• Proper Ventilation:

All gasoline powerboats with an inboard engine, permanently installed fuel tanks and an enclosed bilge area, must be properly ventilated. Also, all gasoline powerboats built after 1 August 1980 must have a working bilge blower with a reminder sign (to run the blower) located near the ignition switch.



• Flame Arrestor:

All gasoline powered boats (except outboards) must have a Coast Guard approved backfire, flame arrestor attached to each carburetor or throttle body. Remember, they must not be covered with grease or oil. Therefore, cleaning your flame arrestor every spring is a must!



• Sound Making Device:

All vessels operating in federally controlled waters must have a working horn or whistle aboard. For a small boat, a hand-held whistle will suffice. For vessels less than 65.6 ft. long, the whistle or horn must be capable of producing a blast of 4 seconds and be audible for at least ½ mile.



• Navigation Lights:

All power vessels, that are allowed to operate after sunset, must have a working set of navigation lights consisting of:
* A Green Light – showing from dead-ahead to 112.5 degrees down the starboard (right) side of your boat.
* A Red Light – showing from dead-ahead to 112.5 degrees down the port (left) side of your boat.
* A White Masthead Light - showing through the entire 225 degrees covered by both the Green and the Red lights combined.
* A White Stern Light - that shows from dead-astern to 67.5 degrees on both sides of the stern (a total area of 135 degrees).
* Add all these numbers together (starboard, port & stern or masthead & stern) and they add up to 360 degrees of visible light identifying your boat.




That's it; the list of equipment that you MUST have aboard your vessel. Don't leave the dock without it. When boarded for a law enforcement safety inspection, failure to produce any of this equipment could result in a big fine and/or termination of your voyage. Make sure you have all this aboard and in good working condition so that you can pass a safety inspection at any time. This list is of required items, but in another article, I discuss optional equipment that any responsible skipper should consider having on board his boat.

So, are we ready to launch?

Boating Equipment

Boating Equipment


Equipment That Every Boat Needs

• Dock Lines:
According to nationwide insurance statistics, most of the damage claims filed by boat owners are for damage done to their boats when they are tied to the dock. Using the wrong size and/or type of mooring lines is inviting trouble. The lack of knowledge about the proper way to use those dock lines greatly increases your chances for boat damage. When rough stormy weather occurs or the wake from other boats in the marina takes place, you are much more likely to sustain damage to your boat if it's not correctly tied up.



• Anchors and Anchor Lines:

Anchors aren't just for picnics or for spending the night at anchor.
An anchor is an important piece of safety equipment that could stop your boat from being driven ashore if your engine fails. Take a look at Anchors and Ground Tackle and practice the important anchoring procedures. Remember, having the correct amount of anchor line deployed when you anchor will determine whether or not your anchor holds. Your life just could depend on it!



• VHF Marine Radio:

VHF means Very High Frequency. If you plan to take your boat out on a large body of water, you should have a VHF radio aboard, either mounted or a hand held model. Take a look at The Marine VHF Radiotelephone for tips on the VHF radio and how to use it for your safety.



• Chart and Compass:

If you're going to go more than 100 yards from the shore, you SHOULD have (if you're a prudent skipper) a good magnetic compass installed. Did you know that your compass rarely points to true North? For safety sake, yours, and your crew, you should have on board, a current chart of the area where you are planning to cruise.



• Bilge Pump:

I love the water, but not when it's in the bilge of my boat! Every boat, without exception, should have some sort of dewatering device aboard. Dewatering devices can range from a simple bucket to a highly sophisticated system of electric pumps. Whatever works for your boat!



• Fenders:

Fenders are those round things that hang over the side of a boat to protect it from damage by other boats or docks. Landlubbers and boating "Newbies" may call them "bumpers", but they really are called "fenders". Remember, in order for fenders to protect your investment (boat), they must be large enough to do the job. Don't put 8" fenders on a 50' boat.



• Tool Kit:

You've heard of "Murphy's Law' right? Murphy was an optimist! Be sure to have a decent set of mechanics tools aboard should you have to make some unexpected repairs. Also, have some basic spare parts with you. Things like extra filters, drive belts, hoses, etc. can make all the difference between completing an enjoyable cruise and spending hours (days) waiting for a busy mechanic to fix your problem.



• Boat Hook:

Never, never, never stick a hand or a leg over the side of a moving boat to "help' in a docking or undocking situation. That's what a boat hook is for. Boat hooks can be repaired or replaced. The same can't always be said for arms, hands and legs.



• Good Flashlight:

Take my word for it, sooner or later you're really going to need one and when you do, you'll want one handy. Also, I suggest a secret stash of fresh batteries somewhere onboard. With nine grandchildren, my flashlights always seem to have dead batteries.



• First Aid Kit:

Bumps, bruises and cuts are pretty common occurrences when participating in water sports such as fishing, skiing, wakeboarding, etc. Therefore, a good first-aid kit should be a "Must Have Aboard" item.



• Sun Screen:

When it is sunny, you get a double dose of UV rays, both directly from the sun and indirectly from the reflection off the water. A water resistant sun screen of SPF 30 or more for skin protection should be a must have.



• Drinking Water:

I'm talking only pure water here; beer and soda don't count. If you're going to be out on the water for more than an hour or so, you should have at least a quart of water on board for each person aboard.
So, that's it; a short list of optional equipment. Everyone will probably have additional suggestions for "must have" items that a prudent skipper should have aboard. Plus, don't forget to take along all the mandatory equipment that the law requires. Well, it seems as if you're pretty well equipped now, so go enjoy your boating and remember, "Let's be safe out there"!