Required Safety Equipment

[Rik]

Minimum Required Safety Equipment forClass A Recreational Vessels
(less than 16 ft / less than 4.9m) or Canoes and Kayaks

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

One approved Type I, II, or III for each person on board.

Must be USCG approved. Must be in serviceable condition. Must be properly stored.

NOTE: A Type V hybrid (inflatables) may substituted for any Type I, II, or III device, but must be worn whenever the vessel is underway and the person is not in the cabin or other enclosed area.

Class A: Every person on board under the age of six (6) must wear an approved Type I, II, or III while the vessel is underway.

Accessibility:

Wearable PFDs must be readily accessible.

You must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.).

They should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them


Visual Distress Signal

Required on the high sea and coastal waters only.

Must carry visual distress signals for nighttime use.

NOTE: Coastal waters means the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and all bays, sounds, harbors, rivers, inlets, etc. where any entrance is over two (2) miles wide to the first point where the distance between shorelines narrows to 2 miles.

Sound Producing Device

(bell, horn, whistle etc.)

Every vessel less than 12 meters (39.4 ft) in length must carry an efficient sound producing device. The sound producing device need not meet any particular specifications, as long as the vessel can produce signals required by the navigational rules.

[whodog]

Nice job Rik.

I hope most already knew this.
At the very least it might just save them a little $$ should they get inspected. At most it might just save their life.

I know the PFD regulations are more strict for children. Could you post the info for them, too?

[Kayakpirate]

One day out on the water the marine police approached while on my kayak asking to see my PFD. Complying with the request I askded, curious what is the fine for not having a PFD with you? The officer replied $65.00 per person.

[bluebill]

PFD is no problem.

But I do not normally carry flares or a horn while out fishing the shallows around Pine Island, Florida in my 10 ft long kayak.

Maybe I should to avoid a fine?

[krash]

You are only required to have a noise making device... get a whistle.

[bluebill]

Krash - thanks, I will get a whistle