safety items required onboard?

[87Stratos]

I've been boating for 15 years but just became a boat owner a few months ago. I have a 1987 Stratos f/g with a Mercury 150. I will be fishing the Mississippi and surrounding lakes in Illinois and Iowa. What safety items are required by coast guard to be onboard? I have... life jackets, two fire extinguishers, and I'm going to purchase an air horn. Am I forgetting anything? I guess what I'm trying to say is, the last thing I want is the coast guard ending a great day of fishing.

 

[RipRider]

Re: safety items required onboard?

Don't forget flares. Orion offers a nice kit for about $50 featuring a 12 gauge launcher, shells, handheld flares, flags, dye, mirrors, and a whistle. Don't go boating without it!

 

[crab bait]

Re: safety items required onboard?

it all hinges on what size boat you have is what you need.. but overkill here is goodthing.. most good boat stores have the regs.null

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: safety items required onboard?

If there is a USCGAUX nearby they will be very happy to inspect the boat, and give you a sticker for thr side window. That way you will probably never stopped for an inspection. Although not required equip. you also want an anchor,if there are lights mounted,they must be in working order.Also a bilge pump, and a bailing device.

 

[araiha]

Re: safety items required onboard?

The CG requirements are the absolute minimum of what to carry. Additional things vary greatly depending on where you boat. The more remote you are the more self-sufficient you need to be and the more duplicity you need to build into your system. Decide up front what you are willing to correct and what problems you will need to deal with and have the items needed to do that before you go. You NEED a way to get help. A radio is best (except in areas that don't have CG/Marine police patrols), because help can vector in on you and you can talk to the shoreside folks as well as the rescuer.<br /><br />For example when I boat in Alaska, I have 2 VHF radios, SOLAS A flares, survival suits, a 406 Satellite epirb, two motors on the boat, two anchors, 800 feet of anchor line, spare prop, spark plugs, toolkit, two bilge pumps... Needed for an inland lake: No.

 

[crab bait]

Re: safety items required onboard?

i have a survival box that is transportable from boat to boat even on other peoples' boats. it's one of those orange or duck weather tite boxes you see in boat & big box stores. in it are: first aid stuff & asprin ( have also a first aid kit on board but who wants to bust into that if you don't have to. ) a bic ligther, cheap multiknife , a rake-along blade sharpener , small tools, galv. lite wieght ty wire , duct tape wrapped on apiece of wood ( to condense the size ) saftey pins, bugspray, sunlotion, flashlite & batterys , few space blankets ( thin mylar ) & a few disposeable small pak poncho's also a few energy protein food bars an more ,,but it all fits in , an no hassle at all . this is just an example . i don't use most the stuff but good to have .. also on board i keep acouple bottles on water , a blanket , cheap raingear , an couple of fleese pullovers ..HEY !! I WASN'T A BOY SCOUT NOTHIN' .

 

[chumbucket]

Re: safety items required onboard?

Cooler,ice,Bait refreshment,s

 

[495v]

Re: safety items required onboard?

Does anybody know, is a kill switch required or is that only on pwc?

 

[Pursuit2150]

Re: safety items required onboard?

Most newer boats have the kill switch, it is not specifically req'd, but the mfr. assoc.condon it.

 

[495v]

Re: safety items required onboard?

Just curious... mine went out on me last summer and I just temporarily bypassed it. Just wondering if I risk getting in trouble with the water patrol boys.

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: safety items required onboard?

There is now a discussion about kill switches for boats, arguing against them. The argument is that you may accidentally kill a larger boat motor when you need it most, like in docking or near other boats.<br /><br />I use mine when I am boating alone, but do not use it otherwise.