What to have on my boat?

[shhewitt]

I just bought a little 15' tri-hull. What equiptment must i have onboard? (ie life jackets, horn...)

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: What to have on my boat?

While a lot of people will tell you this or that US Coast Guard required piece of equipment, I would say that the best thing to have on-board is an approved boating safety course. BoatUS has an on-line course, that is excellent, USCG approved, and it saved me $75 per year on my insurance!

Free Official Online Boating Safety Course From The BoatUS Foundation

 

[82rude]

Re: What to have on my boat?

differnt areas require differnt items.life jackets for all aboard,fire ex.bailing bucket,oars ,though in my area its oars or min of 50 feet of rope and anchor.ever tryed to row a trihull?best bet is to consult your local regs.(coast guard).i also carry spare prop and washers etc,plugs and small tool kit and because i have a little room i carry one of those 900 amp booster packs and also sifone hose.cell phone comes in handy as long as you have coverage.

 

[Dam2009]

Re: What to have on my boat?

While a lot of people will tell you this or that US Coast Guard required piece of equipment, I would say that the best thing to have on-board is an approved boating safety course. BoatUS has an on-line course, that is excellent, USCG approved, and it saved me $75 per year on my insurance!

Free Official Online Boating Safety Course From The BoatUS Foundation

I second that.

Also, if you can stay away from the "all in 1" cheap safety kits. Yes, they meet the requirements, but are useless in real emergency.

Oh yeah, welcome and congrats on your new boat.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: What to have on my boat?

OK, Coast Guard requirements for your boat:

PFD's:

Recreational boats must carry Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Devices, in good and serviceable condition, and of the appropriate size for the intended user. Wearable PFDs must be readily accessible, not stowed in bags, locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them. Throwable devices must be immediately available for use. There must be one Type I, II, III, or V PFD for each person on board or being towed on water skis, etc., PLUS one Type IV throwable device. Throwable, Type IV PFDs may no longer be substituted for wearable types on boats less than 16 feet. State laws on mandatory PFD wear may vary.

Note that the class IV throwables - ring or "cushion" type, BUT, don't SIT on that class IV! Ever!

More to come.

 

[agallant80]

Re: What to have on my boat?

Bottle opener.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: What to have on my boat?

Visual Distress Signal (IF you are on the water at night):

Must carry approved visual distress signals for nighttime use.

Bell/Whistle/Horn:

Every vessel less that 39.4 feet (12 meters) long must carry an efficient sound-producing device.

 

[jbetzelb]

Re: What to have on my boat?

Don't sit on the class IV ever?? I will bite, why not?

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: What to have on my boat?

According to the US Coast Guard Auxillary Safety Inspector, AND my boating safety course, sitting on it destroys the buoyancy of it. If they see you sitting on it, they (theoretically) can write you up for not having a properly maintained Class IV.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What to have on my boat?

According to the US Coast Guard Auxillary Safety Inspector, AND my boating safety course, sitting on it destroys the buoyancy of it. If they see you sitting on it, they (theoretically) can write you up for not having a properly maintained Class IV.

I think that's left over from the old Kapoc days, when the cells would pop, although you can stress the fabric on the new ones. I've had coasties yank as hard as they can on the straps, and of course they tear, and then they write you up. It was worse in the days of cotton covers.

Of course, like everything with boats, it's all situational but I think the most important safety device is often overlooked by the new boater, and that's a properly rigged anchor and line. When you have trouble you need to stay put!

The question has two parts: required safety/advisable safety, and tools/parts/equipment. The latter is highly situational, including the boater's skills and of course room in the boat. A wilderness boater and a crowded lake boater are two different animals.

I think jumper cables should be in every electric start boat (over 25 hp) just as they should be in every car--for yourself and others!