A Course for Safe Boating
Chapter 2 u Boating Law, Navigational Rules and Navigational Aids
REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT Recreational vessels must carry specified safety equipment, which may vary according to the type of boat, the boat’s power source, the boat’s length, the place and time you’re using it and the number of people aboard. Sailboats, canoes, rowboats, and inflatable rafts equipped with motors are considered motorboats and must be equipped as motorboats.
Fire Extinguishers
Does your boat have any one or more of the following? Inboard or stern-drive engine
Closed compartments where portable fuel tanks may be stored Double-walled hulls that are not sealed or not completely filled with flotation material Enclosed living spaces Closed stowage compartments in which combustible or flammable materials may be stored Permanently installed fuel tanks If you answered “yes” to any of the fire extinguisher questions: Your boat must carry a Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher in an easy- to-reach location. Fire extinguishers are classified by letters and Roman numeral symbols. The letter indicates the type of fire the device is made to extinguish and the Roman numeral indicates the size of the extinguisher: The Coast Guard requires Type B extinguishers that are designed for flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and grease fires. An extinguisher is suitable for marine use when it bears a label that either has: Coast Guard approval numbers, “Marine Type USCG” or both markings. Information stating that it is listed with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and suitable for marine use must also be on the extinguisher. It must be of the type and size described in Table B. UL-listed extinguishers must bear a UL rating of 5-B:C or higher. Note: All recently manufactured UL Marine Type 5 extinguishers will bear both the UL and Coast Guard markings. The Roman numerals after the letters, I and II, indicate the size of the extinguisher. A Class B-II extinguisher has four to five times more extinguishing material than a Class B-I extinguisher.
TAKE NOTE
Boat operators should show all passengers where safety equipment is stored. Make sure your passengers know what to do in case of an emergency.
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California Boating A Course for Safe Boating
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