What kind of safety equipment do I need on my boat? That may not be the first question you ask when you’ve just bought a new sailboat or powerboat, but it may be the smartest.
Buying the proper safety gear isn’t just a matter of fulfilling federal or state requirements, it is vital for your own protection in case of a mishap on the water.
“When you’re out on the water, you’re pretty much on your own, and you don’t have much access to immediate help from other people,” said Bill Gossard, head of the recreational boating division of the National Transportation Safety Board, the independent federal agency that investigates major accidents on the water. “You need to be as self-sufficient as you can.”
George R. Beneman, a vessel examiner for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, agrees. “It’s like wearing seat-belts in your car and carrying a spare tire with you,” he said. “When the unexpected happens, you need to be prepared.”
Of course, the list of safety equipment, both required and desired, is long and the task of equipping a boat can be expensive and overwhelming. Try to buy all of it at once and you in for a large bill, and the cart full of gear you take home may not suit your needs.
A better strategy is to inventory what your vessel has onboard and the condition the equipment is in, and then make a prioritized list of upgrades. Start with gear that is required by federal and state regulations and save complicated optional equipment for last, so you have time to do research and shop for the best price.
To help get you started, here’s a rundown of what a well-appointed boat has on board.
LIFE JACKETS
GLEN JUSTICELife vests should be worn or kept readily available, not stored in plastic containers deep inside a locker.
The first item on your list should be Coast Guard-approved life jackets. By law, you must have one for everyone on board and special life jackets for children that are sized to fit and have straps that go under the crotch. The best way to have a life jacket at the ready is to wear it. If you don’t do that, you’re required to keep it readily available—not locked in a compartment and not wrapped in a plastic bag.
Life jackets come in a variety of types and sizes, and all Coast Guard-approved life jackets bear a printed label saying which type they are. For most recreational boaters, a type III life jacket is adequate, but it’s intended mainly for calm, inland waters. For rougher seas, you’ll need a type II (near-shore) or type I, which can keep you afloat more securely and will do a better job of keeping your head out of the water. Type III life jackets don’t.
Many boaters use the new inflatable life jackets, which are more comfortable to wear. But these are intended mainly for persons who can swim, and there’s always the risk that their CO2 chargers may not work.
Coast Guard regulations require you have special life jackets for children, who must wear them whenever they’re on deck. The rules apply nationally to kids 12 and under, but many states mandate them for younger children. Life jackets for kids must be the proper size and should have straps that go between the youngster’s legs.
Whatever kind of life jacket you buy, don’t forget to equip it with strobe lights, a whistle and other safety gear.
