Regulations for Sailboat Safety Equipment

A great sailboat captain hopes for the best, yet is prepared for the worst. According to the United States Coast Guard Auxillary, 25 percent of all boats fail the vessel safety check. Considering that there are fewer members of the U.S. Coast Guard than of the New York City Police Department, it is essential that each captain take responsibility for the safety of crew members aboard her own sailboat.

  1. PFD

    • Each sailboat is required to carry one personal flotation device (PFD) per person on board. Safety harnesses, which tether crew members on deck in foul weather, should be paired with PFDs. If the sailboat is greater than 16 feet in length, a throwable PFD, such as life ring, must also be carried on board.

    Fire Extinguisher

    • The size of the sailboat determines the number and type of fire extinguishers that are required. Sailboats less than 26 feet must carry one B-1 fire extinguisher. A B-1 fire extinguisher has 4 pounds of carbon dioxide or 2.5 pounds of Halon. Sailing yachts 26 to 40 feet long need to carry two B-1 fire extinguishers or one B-2, which has 15 pounds of carbon dioxide or 10 pounds of Halon. Vessels 40 to 65 feet in length must carry three B-1 or one B-1 and one B-2 fire extinguishers.

    Horn

    • A whistle, bell or horn is required on board all sailboats at all times. The whistle, bell or horn must be audible from one mile away.

    Signal Flares

    • A flare gun--also called a Very Pistol--should be carried on board each sailboat. In the event of an emergency, a flare can be fired into the air to signal the boat's position. According to U.S. boating regulations, flare guns do not need to be registered.

    Lights

    • Any sailboat or sailing yacht that operates at night must have running lights. Running lights are intended to make your sailboat visible to other vessels. According to the U.S. Coast Guard Auxillary, non-functioning lights are a common cause of failing the vessel safety check.