Your Recreational Boat Safety Equipment Checklist: What to Have on Board Before You Leave the Dock

It’s finally time for that fishing trip you’ve been planning for weeks. You’ve double-checked your gear, cooler, and sunscreen supply — but are you sure you have everything you need for a safe trip?

The Coast Guard legally requires some basic equipment aboard recreational boats, and you don’t want to get fined for leaving it at home.

While the USCG’s requirements are an excellent baseline, there’s no reason to stop there. Personally, I believe in going above and beyond minimum requirements to ensure I’m ready for anything out on the water.

Below, I’ll share Coast Guard requirements as well as my own broader boat safety equipment checklist.

Coast Guard Boat Safety Equipment Requirements: A Checklist

Required safety equipment varies depending on boat size, type, intended use, and body of water, but almost all recreational boats need the following items:

• Personal flotation device (PFD) for each person on board
• Visual distress signals such as flares, electric distress lights, and flags for boats operating on coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and connected bodies of water
• Approved fire extinguishers for boats with engines or enclosed fuel compartments
• Sound-producing devices such as horns or whistles for emergency signaling
• Navigation lights to improve visibility in low-light or nighttime conditions
• Approved backfire flame arrestor to disperse flames caused by engine backfires on gasoline-powered boats

For the full checklist of required safety equipment, take a look at A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats published by the U.S. Coast Guard. It goes into full detail on types of safety equipment, operators’ responsibilities, and more.

These are federal guidelines, but you’ll also need to check the requirements in your state to ensure compliance with any additional regulations. For example, in Ohio, all children under 10 years old must wear a life jacket on vessels less than 18 feet long. In South Carolina, on the other hand, the age requirement for life jackets is 12 years old on vessels less than 16 feet long. 

Consequences of Missing Safety Equipment on Recreational Boats

The Coast Guard can board any boat at any time, and they don’t need a warrant or probable cause to do so. In addition to making sure you have the proper documentation for your vessel, the Coast Guard can inspect your boat to verify that you have everything on their boat safety equipment checklist. 

If you’re missing anything, you’ll certainly face legal penalties. Fines can reach up to $1,100, and an egregious lack of respect for rules and regulations can result in losing your boating privileges altogether.

Your state may enforce additional penalties. For example, missing safety equipment can get you an infraction or a misdemeanor in California, and it may prevent you from renewing your vessel registration. In Florida, you could have your boat impounded.

Tickets from the Coast Guard can impact your boat insurance. Your rates may increase, or coverage could be denied or reduced. 

Worst of all, not having the right safety equipment onboard increases the risk of injury and death in emergencies.

But just having safety equipment isn’t enough; you need to know how to use it, and it needs to be functional. Remember to inspect your equipment regularly to make sure it’s in proper working order. You can be sure the Coast Guard will check!

Mariners’ Ultimate Boat Safety Equipment Checklist

My safety equipment recommendations may seem like overkill to some. But if I’m guilty of anything, it’s being safe.

Here’s what I recommend for every boat in addition to the Coast Guard’s requirements:

Greater Number of USCG-Required Safety Items

Every occupant needs a wearable PFD onboard a boat, but I always take it one step further by stocking multiple types. For example, I have Type I PFDs for true emergencies. They’re designed to roll people faceup in the water if they lose consciousness. In addition, I like to have throwable PFDs in case someone falls overboard.

An extra fire extinguisher is also a good idea, especially for larger boats. Depending on how the boat is configured, I may have two or three extras.

Anchor and Rode

A lot of people think they’ll only use an anchor to stop and swim or have a picnic. But what happens if your engine breaks down and the wind starts blowing you toward shore? The Coast Guard doesn’t require an anchor onboard, but I wouldn’t want to be on a boat without one.

First Aid Kit

There are no hospitals in the middle of a lake or ocean. A first aid kit is crucial for quickly addressing injuries while waiting for emergency responders. 

Tool Kit

If something happens to your boat, you need to have basic tools on hand. Fixing even minor issues is impossible if you’re missing a screwdriver or pliers.

Navigation and Communication Devices

The Coast Guard doesn’t require a radio or GPS in most instances, but you can’t simply rely on your cellphone if you need help on the water.

Specialized signaling devices are also great additions to any boat safety equipment checklist.

Bilge Pump

This is a handy device in case you hit something or need to get water out of your boat quickly. I certainly wouldn’t want to be stuck with a simple bailer.

Boat Hook

Boat hooks aid in maneuverability and safety. They also make docking and grabbing lines much simpler. For instance, it’s easier to use a boat hook than to have someone throw you a line. You could even use boat hooks to help get people out of the water in some cases.

Anything Else You Need to Be Safe on Your Boat

You know the specific safety needs for your vessel better than anyone. Consider the above items, along with the Coast Guard requirements. Is anything missing that would make your boat in particular safer? If so, add it to the checklist.

Extra Boat Safety Tips for New Boaters

Knowing how to operate your boat safely is just as important as having all the equipment you need. In addition to using a boat safety equipment checklist and a pre-departure checklist — whether you make your own or use the ones from the Coast Guard — we recommend mastering basic boating skills. 

Before you set out, familiarize yourself with basic handling skills such as launching at ramps, docking, and performing simple maintenance tasks like fueling. 

You can gain expertise by taking Mariners licensing courses. Learn more about earning a Master’s captain’s license — even for recreational purposes — to enhance your safety on the water.