Boating Safety

Allstate Boat Insurance – Recreational Boating Required Safety Equipment and Tips

Aug 30, 2018

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Captain’s Report

A boat safety gear bag, or ditch bag, is a way to keep the essential required gear in one place.

Required Safety Gear

The U.S. Coast Guard establishes minimum requirements for safety onboard nationally. There may be state and local requriements requirements and regulations. Know before you go.

Workable fire extinguishers are required on any boat with enclosed fuel or engine spaces, enclosed living spaces, or permanent (not movable by one person) fuel tanks.

Fire Extinguisher Regulations

There are regulations on the size, type, and quantity of fire extinguishers based on the type and size of the vessel. The local United States Coast Guard Auxiliary or local Power Squadron can help so boaters can get exactly what they need. A B-1 or a B-2 will usually meet the requirements for your recreational boats. Most important, make sure everyone onboard knows where it is mounted and that they can get to it when neccessary.

A minimum of a single B-1 fire extiguisher is required on boats 26’ (7.93 m) or less. Shown above is a B-1 with the charge indicator in the green signifying that it is ready for use.

When it becomes necessary to use a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym P.A.S.S. which stands for: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep back and forth across the fire.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

A couple other items on the required list would be things like flares, a sound-producing device, and properly fitting PFDs for each person onboard. The point being, the key to handling an emergency is being prepared for an emergency.

We recommend a ditch bag that includes any additional emergency equipment, such as a knife and a flashlight mounted on the outside for quick access…

…and your flares…

…and a first aid kit, all ready to go.

Emergency Drills

Make sure family members and friends are prepared for an emergency. Go through regular drills with everybody. Man-over-board procedures, fire or accidents, just to make sure that everyone knows what they are supposed to do, where they are supposed to be and when and how to contact authorities.

Back Up Operator

There should be at least one other person on board that has rudimentary knowledge of how to operate the boat in case the operator becomes disabled.

Safe Boating Course. Another important tip: take a safe boating course. It’s a requirement in most states and even if it isn’t required, every boater should do it anyway. The United States Coast Guard Auxilary and the U.S. Power Squadron both offer safe boating courses.