| Whether you're piloting a 40-foot sailboat or a | | | | distance of one half a nautical mile. The bell must |
| canoe, the United States Coast Guard requires | | | | be at least 7.87 inches in diameter. |
| that every boat carry certain safety equipment. | | | | Visual distress signals for night time use, such as |
| The equipment is not expensive or hard to find | | | | emergency flares, are required on all boats |
| and may save your life in an emergency. Boaters | | | | traveling coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and |
| who carry the standard safety equipment are | | | | any connecting body of water that is more than |
| statistically far more likely to survive a boating | | | | two miles wide. Larger boats are required to |
| emergency than those who don't. | | | | carry a daytime visual signal as well. Besides |
| The Coast Guard requires that there be a | | | | flares, other visual distress signals include flags, |
| personal flotation device for each person present | | | | flashlights, water dye markers, and smoke signals. |
| on the boat. Although the Coast Guard does not | | | | Boats larger than 26 feet must carry a Coast |
| mandate that the personal flotation device actually | | | | Guard-approved fire extinguisher. Boats with no |
| be worn, some state laws require them to be | | | | motors such as canoes or row boats and boats |
| worn at all times when the boat is underway by | | | | less than 26 feet that don't have permanent fuel |
| children under a certain age. Most reputable | | | | tanks are not required to carry a fire extinguisher. |
| marinas will be able to provide you with | | | | The Coast Guard recommends, but does not |
| information on applicable state laws regarding | | | | require additional safety items. These include a |
| personal flotation devices. Additionally, if a boat is | | | | blanket, oars in case the motor is disabled, a |
| more than 16 feet in length a personal flotation | | | | bucket for bailing and a first aid kit. Other useful |
| device that can be thrown into the water, like a | | | | items include rain ponchos and a tarp or plastic |
| life ring, is required by the Coast Guard. | | | | garbage back to keep yourself and your boat dry |
| Every boat, of all sizes, must have a whistle or | | | | in a storm. |
| horn. This noisemaking device serves to warn | | | | Finally, the Coast Guard recommends filing a plan |
| other boats of your presence and to use as a | | | | with a responsible party before you leave so that |
| distress signal in case of emergency. Boats larger | | | | there is at least one person on land who knows |
| than 39.4 feet must carry both a bell and a | | | | where you plan to be. |
| whistle. The whistle must be able to be heard at a | | | | |