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There are three venues for boating: offshore, coastal and inshore
(sometimes called inland). Both powerboats and sailboats have many
safety items in common, but the variable is where you boat. Whether
you boat only on inland lakes or the Intracoastal Waterway where you
never leave sight of land, or you cross oceans, the type of safety gear
you carry on board depends on how far you go.
Each safety item listed below in alphabetical order is recommended for
any or all of the types of boating as noted. Some are required by the US
Coast Guard (USCG).
Also available is a Inspection system
with a Guide and a
Checklist that
help you review and inspect your boat’s equipment for compliance with
federal safety regulations.
Abandon Ship Bag
Offshore and coastal boaters should carry an abandon ship or ditch bag
in addition to a liferaft.
Anchors
Offshore and coastal boaters should carry at least two, of which at
least one is for storm use (60 knot gusts), with nylon rode and chain,
swivels and thimbles all rated for the same working load. Inland boaters
may carry only one anchor, but two are recommended.
Audible Signals
Bells and horns per USCG regulations.
Batteries
Spare batteries for all equipment requiring batteries; electronics,
lights, etc.
Bilge Pump
- Large capacity (12gpm) manual diaphragm pump; requires no power to operate for both coastal and offshore cruising
- High capacity electric or other power-driven pump for coastal and offshore cruising
- Standard electric or manual bilge pump for inland or inshore boating
Binoculars
Offshore and coastal boaters should carry at least one pair of waterproof
binoculars for sighting navigational aids and landmarks.
Buckets
At least one, preferably two, minimum 2.5 gallon buckets with lanyards
for backup to the fixed bilge pumps.
Bulbs
Spare bulbs for all lighting on board including utility lights,
navigation, flash and spotlights.
Charts
Paper charts for the cruising area and routing charts for plotting
course and location.
Chart Plotting Tools
Parallel rules, dividers, timepiece, handheld compass, nautical
slide rule and mechanical pencils.
Communications Equipment
- VHF radio and antenna with 15-25 mile communication range for weather and emergencies of all types
- Handheld VHF for backup short range for all types (5-6 mile) communication
- HF radio and antenna providing long range communication for weather and emergencies for offshore boaters
- Emergency antenna for sailboats with mast-mount antenna if the vessel should become dismasted
- 406MHz EPIRB is preferred for coastal cruising while GPIRBs are preferred for offshore cruising
Compass
A nonelectronic, gimbaled and compensated compass. A spare hand
bearing or electronic compass for offshore and coastal cruising.
Crew Overboard Rescue Gear
All boaters should carry USCG approved rescue gear.
Drogue or Sea Anchor
Should be carried by offshore cruisers for use in extreme conditions.
Electronic Navigation Devices
GPS units are preferred for offshore boaters because of its worldwide
coverage, while Loran is best used for coastal and inland boating.
Electronic Instruments
Offshore and coastal boaters should have, as a minimum, both speed and
depth instruments. A lead line may be used in place of, or as backup to,
an electronic depth sounder.
Fire Extinguishers
Per USCG regulations.
First Aid Kit and Book
All boaters should carry a first aid kit and book, but the requirements
for the contents of medical kits and references varies with the type of
boating and crew needs.
Flashlights
Offshore and coastal boaters should carry a minimum of two that are
water-resistant and one of which can be used for signaling. Inland and
inshore boaters need only one.
Foul Weather Gear
The type of foul weather gear worn should be determined by the type of
boating. Offshore cruising requires different gear from coastal cruising
and these requirements are different from inland and inshore boating
requirements. Each crew member should be assigned his or her own foul
weather gear.
Harnesses, Tethers and Jacklines
Offshore and coastal boaters should have harnesses, tethers and jacklines.
The jacklines should be attached to strong deck hardware both port and
starboard of the centerline providing attachment points preferably made
of a flat nylon webbing or rope with a minimum 1,000 pound working load
or 4,000 pound breaking strength. Each crew member should be issued his
or her own harness and tether and it should always be worn when topsides
in rough weather, during reduced visibility and at night, in cold water
and when short-handed. If foul weather gear and boots are donned,
so should the harness and tether.
Heaving Line
Recommended for all types of boating. The line should be 50-75 feet
long and of a material that floats (polypropylene, polyethylene or any
member of the Olefin family) and readily accessible. Also available are
throw bag heaving lines with floating 1/4” UV-protected line stowed in a
bag.
Liferaft
Offshore and coastal boaters should carry a liferaft large enough to
accommodate the entire crew, stored either on the deck in a watertight
container or in an easily accessible cockpit locker.
Navigation References
All boats should have a copy of the Tide and Current Tables and Light
List for current and projected cruising areas, and a ship’s log to
aid in tracking the boat’s position.
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs or Lifejackets)
One per person as per USCG requirements.
Personal Strobe Lights
All PFDs should have personal strobe lights attached.
Radar Reflector
All boats should carry radar reflectors that have a minimum equivalent
echoing area of 65 square feet (6 square meters) and if octahedral in
shape, should have a minimum diagonal measurement of 12 inches. Radar
reflectors should be mounted as high as possible to maximize effectiveness.
Sextant & Sight Reduction Tables
Offshore boats should carry a sextant, current nautical almanac and sight
reduction tables.
Spare Parts
All boats should carry spare parts for the engine, and all offshore and
coastal boats should have spare parts for at least the engine and fuel
system as well as the steering, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Thru-hull Plugs
All boats should carry tapered wooden softwood plugs in a variety of
sizes to fit the boat’s thru-hulls. Each thru-hull should have an
appropriately sized plug attached to the handle or mounted adjacent
to the thru-hull.
Tools & Knives
All boats should carry as a minimum a sharp knife to cut rope.
Visual Distress Signals
Per USCG regulations. Additional flares are recommended for coastal and
offshore cruising.
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