Boating Safety Checklist: 15 Must-Have Items

Boating is an exciting and peaceful adventure that allows us to connect with nature, relax, and enjoy the open waters. However, ensuring safety on board is essential to ensure that your great day on the water is a worry-free experience.

When you’re out on the water, help can be far away, and during an emergency, you don’t have time to wait. Having the right safety equipment can make all the difference and many items are required by US Coast Guard Regulations.

Our Boating Safety Checklist has the 15 must-have items that protect you and your passengers, giving you peace of mind and knowing you’re prepared for the unexpected.

Boating Safety Checklist: 15 Must-Have Items

The items on our boating safety checklist may not be groundbreaking on their own, but we carefully consider the details of each item included. Below, we will not only outline what you need but also explain why each item is necessary.

1. Life Jackets

Life jackets are essential for boating safety, and Coast Guard regulations mandate that a life jacket be worn by each passenger on board. While it may seem easy to grab six adult life jackets and be done with it, this approach can overlook a critical aspect: ensuring the proper fit for everyone. A life jacket that doesn’t fit properly may not work as intended, potentially compromising the wearer’s safety. It’s important to consider the size and build of each passenger, including children, to ensure that everyone on the boat is adequately protected.

If your group includes four adults and two children, having only six adult-sized life jackets won’t meet safety requirements. It’s important to ensure a proper fit and have a variety of sizes on board. By having six child-sized life jackets alongside six adult-sized ones, you’ll be better prepared for any combination of passengers. This not only keeps you compliant with regulations but also ensures that everyone, regardless of age or size, can enjoy the water with peace of mind, knowing they are well-protected.

Remember that USCG regulations require children under the age of 13 to wear a USCG–approved life jacket while underway in a recreational vehicle of any length (unless tethered to a sailboat or in an enclosed cabin). Many states have modified these regulations. For example, in Florida, a child under the age of 6 must wear a life jacket onboard a vessel under 26 feet in length while underway. Always check your local laws to be sure that you are in compliance.

2. Throwable Flotation Device

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) requires that vessels 16 feet or longer have at least one USCG-approved Type IV throwable personal flotation device (PFD) on board. Type IV PFDs include life rings, horseshoes, LifeSlings, specially built seat cushions with straps, and newer technologies like self-inflating throw rafts. Just ensure that your choice is labeled as a USCG-approved Type IV Throwable device to comply.

Mustang also makes a throwable self-inflating rescue stick, which can be a great thing to have on hand but is not yet USCG approved.

3. Fire Extinguishers

It’s important to have fire extinguishers on your boat to protect against potential fire hazards. Coast Guard regulations require boats to carry the appropriate number and type of fire extinguishers based on their size and fuel system to ensure they have the right firefighting tools on hand in case of an emergency.

It is important to place fire extinguishers where they are easily accessible during an emergency. Depending on the layout of your boat, position extinguishers strategically so that they can be easily reached. For instance, if your boat has a galley, engine room, or enclosed cabins, having just a single fire extinguisher stored at the bow may not be sufficient. In the event of a sudden galley fire, reaching an extinguisher could be difficult or dangerous if it is located too far away. Fire extinguishers should be placed throughout the boat to ensure that there is always one nearby, regardless of where a fire might start.

To enhance safety beyond the minimum requirements, I always recommend having more fire extinguishers than what the regulations dictate. By having additional extinguishers, you increase the likelihood of having one within reach during a critical moment, effectively reducing the response time in case of a fire.

4. Sound-Producing Devices

The Coast Guard Regulations require a sound-producing device on your boat. Depending on the length of your boat, this can include a whistle, horn, bell, and gong. Most Cruising class boats will require a horn; if you are over 65 feet, you will also need a bell.

Sound-producing devices are helpful for signaling in dense fog or other poor visibility conditions and to attract attention. Many boaters rely on air horns. It is important to check these regularly to ensure that they still work and have not started to rust. We also recommend carrying an extra canister of compressed air as a backup. We carry a HyperWhistle in our Ditch Bag. It’s super loud, has a range of over two miles, and doesn’t require compressed air.

We also recommend attaching a safety whistle to every life jacket on board. These are inexpensive (a 6-pack is under $10 on Amazon) and provide a way for a person overboard to signal for help.

5. Visual Distress Signals

If something goes wrong, you will need a way to signal other boaters, rescuers, or shore. Visual distress signals, such as pyrotechnic flares, electronic flares, and flags, get the attention of help.

If you cruise in coastal or open waters (including the Great Lakes), the USCG sets requirements for signaling devices. This is an overview of devices which can be carried to meet the requirements:

• Three hand-held red flares (day and night).
• One electric distress light (night only). An approved signal flag (day only).
• One hand-held red flare and two parachute flares (day and night). One hand-held orange smoke signal, two floating orange smoke signals (day), and one electric distress light (night only).

Note: All flares must be under 42 months of age.

An Electronic Distress Light and a signal flag are sufficient for most Cruisers. This eliminates having to replace your flares every two years. Keep them in your ditch bag.

For more information on Electronic Distress Lights,
read our Article:
Electronic Flares – A Safety Improvement

6. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon

When triggered, personal locator beacons and EPIRBs send an emergency signal to Rescue Services. This ensures they can locate you quickly and accurately during an emergency by sending your vessel, contact, and GPS position data.

EPIRBs must be registered so the Rescue Services know the boat or person connected to that device. This information lets them know who the owner is and how to contact them. Registrations can be updated as necessary.

EPIRBs are good for vessels. They are either mounted near a door for quick access, placed in a special waterproof enclosure on deck that automatically deploys the EPIRB in case of sinking, or carried in a ditch bag.

PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons) are more compact and are typically kept in a ditch bag or attached to a life jacket. Some PLBs will automatically deploy when a life jacket inflates. A PLB is registered to an individual rather than a vessel.

7. Marine VHF Radio

If your boat is under 65 feet, you are not required to carry a Marine VHF Radio. However, a VHF Radio is excellent safety equipment and essential when navigating to communicate effectively with other boats, locks, bridges (to get them to open for you), and marinas.

It is also an important part of your safety equipment. Many areas on the water, especially offshore or in remote locations, still lack reliable cell phone coverage. In an emergency, your phone may not work, and looking up the phone number of the closest Coast Guard station wastes valuable time!

Cruisers should have a permanently installed VHF radio with an antenna mounted as high on the vessel as possible to get maximum range. We also recommend that you have a hand-held Marine VHF Radio on board. This can be very handy for monitoring a second channel (USCG rules require you to monitor Channel-16 if you have a radio on board) or juggling between commercial traffic (typically Channel-13) and locks, bridges, or marinas. Also, if you have to abandon ship for some reason or go for a ride in the dinghy, the hand-held radio is easy to take with you.

8. Navigation Tools

Up-to-date charts and other navigation tools ensure safe navigation in the area you boat. GPS is great, but electronics often fail. You also need a fixed, reliable compass onboard and a backup set of paper charts for safe boating.

Your phone or tablet computer can also be a backup (or primary on smaller vessels) navigation system. Apps like AquaMaps, Argo Nav, and Navionics link with your device’s GPS capabilities to provide real-time navigation information. Additionally, having these apps available on a portable device allows you to take them with you when in your dinghy or an emergency.

9. First Aid Kit

Any first aid kit is better than no first aid kit, but a kit designed for marine emergencies will provide more options when an injury occurs. Many first aid kits designed for use on board boats will contain specialized supplies to deal with things like stings and bites from marine animals, such as jellyfish. They may also include specialized tools for removing hooks and blood clotting supplies to stop bleeding when help might be far away.

It’s important to keep your first-aid supplies in a sealed, waterproof (not water-resistant) container. Moisture can ruin many supplies and has a way of seeping in. We recommend using a plastic gasket-sealed waterproof box and putting the various groups of supplies inside individual zip-lock bags. This helps sort the supplies and makes them easy to find. To further prevent moisture from getting in, you can also add a few of those desiccant packs that come with new products to absorb any additional moisture.

The perfect first aid kit with the right supplies for your cruising situation may not exist off the shelf. You may have to assemble it using smaller (frequently less expensive) specialized kits like trauma packs, burn packs, sting packs, etc. Be sure to include common medications like motion sickness, diarrhea, pain relief, and histamines. Also, if you have pets on board, you may want to include a pet-specific first-aid supply pack.

First aid supplies go out of date, so as part of your yearly supplies and safety review, be sure to check the expiration date on all of your supplies and replace them when necessary.

10. Emergency Water Pouches

As cruisers, we typically have water on tap in our boats or bottled water in our refrigerators. People with smaller boats may have a cooler stocked with bottled water. That’s fine for day-to-day use. However, when an emergency occurs, filling bottles or rummaging through the refrigerator may take precious time, or worse, in the panic of the emergency, you may forget.

We carry some emergency water pouches designed for long-term storage and survival use in our ditch bag. These pouches are inexpensive, relatively flat (so unlike water bottles, they pack well), and have a shelf life of up to five years. Another suggestion is to keep a few packs of mix-in electrolyte powder on hand as well.

11. Tookit and Spare Parts

Something is always breaking on a boat. Carrying a basic set of tools and supplies will allow you to address at least some of these and hopefully get you to the next mechanic. Your spare parts list will be determined by a number of factors, including your boat type, the age of your boat, where you cruise, and your DIY capabilities.

Boaters should carry at least a basic tool kit. In addition, items like hose repair tape, duct tape, a selection of zip-tie sizes, a few sizes of hose clamps, super-glue, a small can of WD-40, and a selection of stainless steel nuts, bolts, and screws (buy a pre-boxed pack at your local Harbor Freight) will give you options for repairing many on-board issues.

We also recommend carrying a spare set of fuel filters, engine belts, and oil and coolant to top up your engine and generator.

12. Anchor and Extra Lines

Surprisingly, the Coast Guard doesn’t require an anchor. I wouldn’t go anywhere without one! Without an anchor, you have no way of keeping your boat from drifting if something goes wrong. Most cruiser class boats will come with an anchor and windlass so there you are covered. You may want to consider carrying a secondary anchor so that you can drop a stern anchor to keep you from swinging in anchorages. Ensure you have the right type of anchor for your boat and the bottom conditions where you operate. Also, don’t forget a small anchor for your dinghy!

I also recommend that you carry an extra set of dock lines. We carry a spare 50-foot, 25-foot, and 15-foot dock line. These have come in very handy at marinas with odd dock configurations or when tying down extra well in bad weather. We also carry a couple of extra inflatable fenders for those docks with pilings sticking out, or to give some extra cushion when rafting up or in windy conditions. Inflatable fenders like those from AERÉ or Bris pack flat and can be inflated quickly with just a foot pump.

13. Bilge Pump or Bailer

A bilge pump or bailer isn’t only important for leaks and holes. Dozens of situations could cause you to take on water, such as getting swamped by the wake of a passing boat. Having a way to remove water is essential.

A hand pump or bailer is sufficient for small boats and Dingys. Cruiser boats typically come equipped with one or more built-in battery-powered bilge pumps. It is important to check the operation of your bilge pumps regularly, as debris can clog pumps, float switches can stick, and wiring can corrode and fail.

A two-inch hole, two feet underwater, will let 10,000 gallons of water into the boat every hour. Typical high-capacity pumps will remove 3,700 gph if they survive.

We had a rudder post seal fail, letting in so much water that our three onboard bilge pumps couldn’t keep up with the flow. We had to call Sea-Tow to come out with a large gas pump to get ahead of the flow and stop it. We were worried that we would lose the boat!

Now, we carry a spare high-capacity bilge pump and 25 feet of hose. The pump is equipped with an accessory adapter plug (cigarette lighter socket), and plug-on set battery clips so that we can quickly attach it to any battery on the boat. We keep it ready just in case. It has come in handy to empty rainwater out of the dinghy and help a neighbor when a water line broke and filled their bilge with water.

14. Flashlights and Batteries 

Make sure to have a powerful flashlight for nighttime visibility or looking into those dark bilges or under engines. Look for a waterproof flashlight designed for the marine environment, and keep plenty of spare batteries on hand. While rechargeable flashlights are convenient and save money, they can take hours to recharge if they run out of power at the wrong moment. I have a rechargeable flashlight for everyday use, but I also keep a good battery-powered flashlight with an extra set of batteries on hand, just in case. Make sure to pack a reliable waterproof flashlight and an extra set of batteries in your ditch bag as well.

Remember to replace emergency-use batteries with fresh ones every year, even if you don’t use them. The old batteries (if they are still good) can be used in everyday items. I recommend devices that use Lithium type AA-batteries as they last longer and are less susceptible to leakage.

15. Sun Protection

When you’re out on the water, the sun’s effects can be more intense than you might realize, making sun protection an essential part of any boating adventure. It’s easy to overlook sun protection amidst all the excitement, but it should be at the top of your safety checklist. Besides the risk of long-term skin damage like sunburn or, worse, skin cancer, too much exposure to the sun can cause immediate issues like headaches, dizziness, and even disorientation. These symptoms can not only ruin a day of fun but also pose safety risks, particularly when navigating a boat.

To prevent these issues, you can take a few simple precautions. Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen frequently, wear UV-protected sunglasses, and cover your skin with clothing to shield yourself from harmful rays. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat can provide extra protection for your face and neck. By following these steps, you can protect yourself and better enjoy your time on the water, whether you’re fishing, water skiing, or simply relaxing with friends and family. Prioritizing sun protection ensures that your boating experience remains safe and enjoyable for everyone on board.

Be Safe and Plan Ahead

We all hope that we never have an emergency on the water. Emergency equipment and supplies can seem like a waste of money, especially when we have to replace items that we’ve never used. In our years of cruising, we’ve had a few incidents where we have had to rely on our safety gear, and once you use something, you quickly learn its value. Don’t skimp on safety gear. When it’s needed, you want it to work the first time, every time. Check your emergency supplies frequently, and keep a simple checklist somewhere on your boat so that you don’t forget anything.

Finally, develop a simple emergency plan. Review it with your guests. Simple things like the location of life jackets, fire extinguishers, and first-aid supplies. Also, don’t assume that guests on your boat know how to properly put on your life jackets. If you have inflatable jackets, be sure to explain how to inflate them in case they are manual, or the auto-inflation fails. This is your chance to be that hilarious flight attendant you watched on your last plane flight.

Did we forget any safety items? How prepared are you for onboard emergencies?
Let us know in the comments below!

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