USCG Required Safety Equipment Check by Boat Length

You need one USCG-approved wearable life jacket for each person aboard, in good condition and the right size for that person. Check the label for USCG approval and the size or weight range. Look for rips, broken buckles or straps, and stiff, waterlogged or moldy foam. Take them out of the plastic bags and keep them where people can reach them quickly, not in locked lockers or under other gear.

The USCG suggests testing foam life jackets for wear and buoyancy at least once a year and throwing out any that are waterlogged, faded or damaged. The best test is in the water: put it on, float, and make sure your mouth stays clear. Newer USCG-approved labels may describe the device as a "life jacket" or a "buoyancy aid" instead of the old Type I to V numbers; read the label to see who it is meant for, since some buoyancy aids are not intended for weak swimmers.

Inflatables only count if they are worn (or as the label says) and generally only for people 16 and older. Check the CO2 cylinder is screwed in tight and not used, the arming indicator is green, and the service date on the label has not passed. The USCG is clear that an inflatable with an empty cylinder or any status indicator that is not green is not serviceable and does not count toward your required life jackets. Replace any used cylinder with the re-arm kit for that model.

Federal rules require children under 13 to wear a life jacket while the boat is underway, unless they are below deck or in an enclosed cabin. Many states set their own age. Try each child's jacket on them: it should not ride up over the chin when you lift it by the shoulders.

Boats 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry a USCG-approved throwable device, such as a ring buoy or a throwable cushion. It must be immediately available, so keep it near the helm or cockpit, not locked under a seat. Never use a throwable cushion as a regular seat; that crushes the foam.

Boats with inboard engines, permanently installed fuel tanks, or enclosed spaces where fumes can collect need fire extinguishers. Boats under 26 feet with an outboard, portable tanks and no enclosed spaces are exempt, but carrying one is still smart. The USCG minimum is:

One 20-B can replace two 5-B extinguishers. A 10-B counts only as one 5-B. Confirm your exact count with the USCG fire extinguisher FAQ.

• Boats model year 2018 and newer must carry extinguishers labeled 5-B, 10-B or 20-B that are date-stamped. Older labels that say only "B-I" or "B-II" do not count on these boats.
• Boats model years 1953 to 2017 may carry 5-B/20-B units or older B-I/B-II units in good condition.
• Disposable (non-rechargeable) extinguishers must be removed from service 12 years after the date of manufacture, usually stamped on the bottom of the bottle or near the label.
• Rechargeable extinguishers do not expire at 12 years but need annual service by a certified technician.

The gauge needle must be in the green. The locking pin and tamper seal must be in place. The nozzle should be clear, the bottle free of heavy rust or dents, and the bracket solid. If a disposable unit reads in the red or has been used even briefly, replace it.

Boats 16 feet and longer on covered waters need day and night signals. Boats under 16 feet need night signals when out between sunset and sunrise. Common ways to meet the rule:

• Three hand-held or aerial red flares that are rated for day and night use, or
• An orange distress flag (day) plus an electric distress light that flashes SOS (night), or
• Three orange smoke signals (day) plus an electric distress light (night)

Check the expiration date printed on every pyrotechnic device. Pyrotechnics are typically good for 42 months from manufacture; expired ones do not count toward the requirement. Store them dry and easy to reach.

Boats under 39.4 feet (12 meters) need an efficient sound device, such as a whistle or an air horn. A voice does not count. Boats 39.4 feet and longer need a whistle or horn audible for at least half a mile (one nautical mile at larger sizes) and boats over about 65 feet also need a bell. Test the horn, and keep a spare whistle or a can-style air horn aboard in case the electric horn fails.

Navigation lights are required from sunset to sunrise and in fog, rain or other restricted visibility. Turn them on and walk around the boat. Confirm red is on the left (port), green is on the right (starboard), and the white light works. See our navigation lights guide for which lights your boat needs and how to fix them.

Boats under 26 feet with 3 horsepower or more that have an engine cut-off switch must use it (clip the lanyard to the driver or use the wireless fob) when running on plane or above displacement speed. Start the engine and pull the lanyard: the engine should stop. Check the lanyard for cracks and that the clip closes. Replace the battery in wireless fobs.

Gasoline boats with enclosed engine or fuel compartments need ducted ventilation, and most also need a powered blower. Look for loose, crushed or disconnected vent hoses. Turn on the blower and feel for airflow at the outside vent. Always run it for at least 4 minutes before starting the engine, and sniff the engine compartment first.

Inboard gasoline engines must have a USCG-accepted backfire flame arrestor on the air intake (outboards do not). Open the engine hatch and confirm it is in place, tightly attached, not cracked, and not clogged with oil or dirt. If it is dirty, follow your engine manual for cleaning.

Have your registration aboard and your numbers displayed. Boats 26 feet and longer must post an oil discharge placard and a MARPOL garbage placard. Boats 39.4 feet (12 meters) and longer must carry a copy of the Navigation Rules. Log the date and what you replaced in BoatMend.