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Safety Equipment Every Boat Needs to Have

Aug. 25 2021 Safety By Rockingham Boat

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A safe and successful boat ride starts with the right safety supplies. We've gathered up the essential boat safety equipment in a handy list below. For more safety advice or to shop boats for sale, visit Rockingham Boat. Our dealership is based in Hampstead, New Hampshire, and we also serve those in Manchester and Nashua.

A Quick Note

The exact number and types of safety supplies needed will be influenced by factors such as:

  • The party size. There are safety items that each passenger needs, such as a life jacket.
  • The boat size. Larger boats may be legally required to have more safety items, such as extra fire extinguishers.

Personal Flotation Devices

Personal flotation devices (PFD) are required on every boat voyage.

There are a few key requirements:

  • There must be at least two life jackets, even if there is only one person on board.
  • There must be at least one life vest for each passenger.
  • Kids that are 12 years and younger must wear the PFD while the boat is moving.
  • For boats that are longer than 16 feet, there needs to be a throwable PFD (such as a cushion or ring buoy).

Sound Making Safety Devices

Boats need at least two sound making devices, such as an athletic whistle or an air horn. 

  • Boats 40 feet or shorter: sound needs to be heard for one-half of a mile. 
  • Boats longer than 40 feet: sound needs to be heard for half of a mile or longer than four seconds.

Visual Distress Signals

Common options include floating smoke signals, orange distress flags, flares, and electric distress lights.

  • Boats under 16 feet need nighttime distress signals. 
  • Boats over 16 feet need day and night visual signals.

Safety Lighting

Check your boat's navigation lights and make sure no bulbs have burnt out. Bring a waterproof flashlight on board as well.

Fire Extinguisher

Different boats have different fire extinguisher requirements.

  • Boats 26 feet or shorter: one B-I fire extinguisher.
  • Boats 26 to 40 feet: one B-II or two B-I fire extinguishers.
  • Boats 40 to 65 feet: one B-II and one B-1 or three B-1 fire extinguishers.

If your boat comes with a fixed fire extinguishing system, this counts as one B-1 fire extinguisher.

Spare Parts

Make sure you have any spare parts for various safety equipment. For example, bring extra batteries for the flashlight and sound making safety devices. 

It's also wise to bring commonly used spare boat parts, such as light bulbs and fuel filters. If you notice a problem on board, you can replace the broken part before it becomes a safety issue.

Looking to shop boats for sale? Check out the selection of models at Rockingham Boat. Peruse the boats online or stop by our dealership in Hampstead, New Hampshire. We also proudly serve those in Manchester and Nashua, New Hampshire.