A Course for Safe Boating

California Boating

Chapter 2

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.