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Required Boat Accessories to Keep You Shipshape and Safe.

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While a man might be a perfect slob on land, you can be sure his boat has all the accessories necessary to keep him shipshape.  Not only will an organized boat be more comfortable, but also it's a necessity for a safe voyage.  There is any number of boat accessories available to keep your vessel free from chaotic clutter.  

Regardless of boat size, there are some boat accessories that simply make common sense for the safety of you and your passengers.  While it's wonderful to have every accessory available, there are some items that are required and others that can be obtained at a slower pace. 

Personal Flotation Devices are boat accessories that must be USCG approved, readily accessible, wearable by the intended user, and you must have one Type I, II, III or V, per person. The Type V must be worn to meet carriage requirements. The Type IV throwable device must be readily accessible.  Any child under 12 years of age on vessels under 19 feet in length must wear the Personal Flotation Device at any time the boat is not at anchor, made fast to the shore/dock, or aground, unless they are below deck or in the cabin of a boat with an enclosed cabin. 

Fire extinguishers, No Fixed System One B-I of any type, required on any boats with enclosed fuel or engine spaces, enclosed living spaces, or permanent (not movable by one person) fuel tanks.  This  accessory must be USCG approved and readily accessible. It is important to understand the correlation between size and number of fire extinguishers to your boat size.  One 8mm is sufficient for vessels under 26 feet in length.  It would be prudent to add an additional fire extinguisher for each additional 15 feet of length. 

Another of the boat accessories that is required by the USCG is the VDS, or Visual Distress Signals.  On coastal waters, between sunset and sunrise, night signals are required with your choice of carrying a minimum of three day use and three night use or three day/night combination pyrotechnic devices.  They must be in good serviceable condition and within the expiration limits for the pyrotechnic devices.  As an alternative, the boat owner can have one orange distress flag for day use and one electric SOS signal light for night use. 

Sound producing devices are also recommended as a required  accessory to signal intentions or position, preferably a whistle or horn.  Under Rule 33 of the Navigation rules, boats less than 40 feet MUST have aboard a means of making an efficient sound signal. 

Navigation lights are also one of the required boat accessories and boats 16 feet or longer must also have a 360° all-around white anchor light capable of being lit independently from the red/green/white running lights.  Sailboats under power are considered powerboats and must follow "under power" means, which means sidelights, stern light, and masthead light.  Sailboats under 65 feet can substitute a tri-color light for separate sidelights and stern light.  Rolling sailboats and powerboats under 26 feet traveling under 7 knots can substitute a white lantern in place of the required lights. Unless moored in a chart-designated anchorage, all vessels at anchor are required to have an all-around white light visible for two (2) nautical miles. 

Additional boat accessories include notice of pollution regulations and navigation rules readily accessible.  Marine Sanitation Devices Vessels with installed head facilities must have an operable Coast Guard-certified Type I, II, or III Marine Sanitation Devices (MSD). Any "Y" valve used to discharge waste must be located to prevent accidental discharging of waste material into water.  Mufflers must be effective, in good working order, and in constant use..

Whether a new boat owner or an old-timer, it's not a bad idea to get a PDF copy of the Coast Guard Vessel Safety Check (VSC) for boat safety so that you always are aware of what boat accessories are required from the responsible boat owner.  Copy and paste the following link to get your copy: http://justice101us.com/cgaux/forms/a7012.pdf