Every boat must have specific safety items, as required by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). What you need depends on your boat’s size and type. Always check the USCG and state regulations to know what’s required for your boat.
Required Safety Equipment:
Life Jackets (Personal Flotation Devices)
Throwable PFD (for boats over 16 feet)
Fire Extinguishers
Visual Distress Signals (for coastal waters)
Sound Producing Devices
Navigation Lights
Ventilation (for boats built after August 1980)
Backfire Flame Arrestor (for inboard or sterndrive gasoline engines)
Marine Sanitation Devices and placards (for boats with permanently installed toilets)
