Coast Guard Auxiliary Eagle Emblem

Red, White & Blue Line

MINIMUM FEDERAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

 

FEDERAL EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR RECREATIONAL BOATS--A QUICK LOOK

Boat operators are expected to make sure that their boats, referred to in the law as vessels, carry at least a minimum of safety equipment (carriage requirements) and comply with federal and state regulations for such things as numbering and operation.
These pages are not intended to be a complete listing of all equipment required to be on vessels, nor does having the minimum requirements guarantee the complete safety of the vessel or its passengers. The safety equipment requirements listed by the U.S. Coast Guard should be viewed as conservative and not absolute.
Our equipment requirement pages should be considered only as a guide for those planning on purchasing a boat. For a complete listing of all equipment, signals and operating procedures, as it is written by the U.S. Coast Guard, please refer to the Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats, and the U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules International - Inland. (See the USCG Boating Safety Links on the main page, or click on the highlighted text to link up to the official Web version of the Tips.

 Directory
Personal Flotation Devices
(PFDs)		 Requirements
Fire Extinguishers Requirements
Visual Distress Signals Requirements
Sound Producing Devices Requirements
Navigation Lights Requirements
Ventilation
Boats built before August 1,1980		 Requirements
Ventilation
Boats built on or after August 1,1980		 Requirements
Back-Fire Flame Arrestor
 Requirements 






    

        
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO 

          
Coast Guard minimum equipment
        requirements vary with the size of the boat, type of
        propulsion, whether operated at night or in periods of
        reduced visibility, and, in some cases, the body of water
        on which it is used. For a more thorough discussion and
        complete details on how many and what types of equipment
        you must have aboard your vessel, you can request a free
        copy of Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for
        Recreational Boats by leaving an E-mail message with the

          Flotilla Communications
          Services Officer .

        



        
In addition to the federal requirements
        listed above, the owner/operator may be required to
        comply with additional regulations specific to the State
        in which the vessel is registered or operated. State laws
        vary. A vessel in compliance with the laws of Florida may
        not meet the requirements of another State where
        operated. To insure compliance with State boating laws,
        contact the appropriate boating agency of your state.
        

        		
    







 




    

        
Return
        to Home Page