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What safety equipment is required on a boat in Canada?

What safety equipment is required to be carried onboard a boat in Canada?  This is a common question.  We have put together a list of items you need to meet the requirements based on the type and size of your boat.  Simply select the tab below that applies to you, and you will see safety equipment is required to be carried onboard a boat in Canada and links to each item, providing you with a handy shopping list!  Of course, these are minimum requirements – we have a lot of great safety gear that will make your boating trips safer and more enjoyable!
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[av_tab_container position=’top_tab’ boxed=’border_tabs’ initial=’1′ av_uid=’av-km55wepc’]
[av_tab title=’Paddle Boats’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-4018mn2′]

Boat Type & Length

• Paddleboats
• Watercycles
• Standup Paddleboards
• Sealed-Hull and Sit-on-Top Kayaks

Personal Lifesaving Appliances

• One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board*
• One (1) reboarding device (See Note 1)
• One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

Visual Signals (If boat is over 6 m)

• One (1) watertight flashlight
• Six (6) flares of Type A, B, C or D, only two (2) can be Type D. (See Note 2)

Vessel Safety Equipment

• One (1) bailer OR One manual bilge pump (See Note 3) ~OR~ Bilge-pumping arrangements

Navigation Equipment

• One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance
• Navigation lights (See Note 4)
• One (1) magnetic compass (See Note 5)
• One (1) radar reflector (See Note 6)

Fire Fighting Equipment

• None.

[/av_tab]
[av_tab title=’Row Boats’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-3am38ou’]

Boat Type & Length

• Canoes
• Kayaks
• Rowboats
• Rowing Shells
• Other Human-Powered Boats

Personal Lifesaving Appliances

• One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board
• One (1) reboarding device (See Note 1)
• One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

Visual Signals (If boat is over 6 m)

• One (1) watertight flashlight
• Six (6) flares of Type A, B, C or D, only two (2) can be Type D. (See Note 2)

Vessel Safety Equipment

• One (1) bailer OR One manual bilge pump (See Note 3) ~OR~ Bilge-pumping arrangements

Navigation Equipment

• One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance
• Navigation lights (See Note 4)
• One (1) magnetic compass (See Note 5)
• One (1) radar reflector (See Note 6)

Fire Fighting Equipment

• None.

*If everyone on board is wearing a lifejacket or a PFD of appropriate size, you are only required to carry

1. a sound-signalling device; and .
2. a watertight flashlight if the boat is used after sunset or before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

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[av_tab title=’Sailboards’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-31wv3by’]

Boat Type & Length

• Sailboards
• Kiteboards

Personal Lifesaving Appliances

• One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board
• One (1) reboarding device (See Note 1)
• One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

Visual Signals (if boat is over 6m)

• One (1) watertight flashlight
• Six (6) flares of Type A, B, C or D, only two (2) can be Type D.

Vessel Safety Equipment

• One (1) bailer OR One manual bilge pump (See Note 3) ~OR~ Bilge-pumping arrangements

Navigation Equipment

• One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance
• Navigation lights (See Note 4)
• One (1) magnetic compass (See Note 5)
• One (1) radar reflector (See Note 6)

Fire Fighting Equipment

• None

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[av_tab title=’PWCs’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-2isfkji’]

Boat Type & Length

• Personal Watercraft (PWC)

Personal Lifesaving Appliances

• One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board*
• One (1) reboarding device (See Note 1)
• One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

Visual Signals

• One (1) watertight flashlight ~OR~ Three (3) flares of Type A, Type B, Type C or Type D, only one (1) can be Type D (See Note 2)

Vessel Safety Equipment

• One (1) manual propelling device ~OR~ One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
• One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump (See Note 3)

Navigation Equipment

• One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance
• Navigation lights (See Note 4)
• One (1) magnetic compass (See Note 5)
• One (1) radar reflector (See Note 6)

Fire Fighting Equipment

• One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher (or larger)

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[av_tab title=’Boats up to 6m’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-7nudha’]

Boat Type & Length

• Sail and Power Boats up to 6 m (19’8”)

Personal Lifesaving Appliances

• One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board
• One (1) reboarding device (See Note 1)
• One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

Visual Signals

• One (1) watertight flashlight ~OR~ Three (3) flares of Type A, B, C or D, only one (1) can be Type D. (See Note 2)

Vessel Safety Equipment

• One (1) manual propelling device ~OR~ One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
• One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump (See Note 3)

Navigation Equipment

• One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance
• Navigation lights (See Note 4)
• One (1) magnetic compass (See Note 5)
• One (1) radar reflector (See Note 6)

Firefighting Equipment

• One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher if equipped with an inboard engine, a fixed fuel tank of any size, or a fuel burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance.

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[av_tab title=’Boats 6m-9m’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-1qyybvi’]

Boat Type & Length

• Sail and Power Boats over 6 m and up to 9 m (19’8” – 29’6”)

Personal Lifesaving Appliances

• One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board
• One (1) reboarding device (See Note 1)
• One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long ~OR~ One (1) lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

Visual Signals

• One (1) watertight flashlight
• Six (6) flares of Type A, B, C or D, only two (2) can be Type D. (See Note 2)

Vessel Safety Equipment

• One (1) manual propelling device ~OR~ One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
• One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump (See Note 3)

Navigation Equipment

• One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance
• Navigation lights (See Note 4)
• One (1) magnetic compass (See Note 5)
• One (1) radar reflector (See Note 6)

Firefighting Equipment

• One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a motor
• One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a fuel burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance

[/av_tab]
[av_tab title=’Boats 9m-12m’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-juijzy’]

Boat Type & Length

• Sail and Power Boats over 9 m and up to 12 m (29’6” – 39’4”)

Personal Lifesaving Appliances

• One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board
• One (1) reboarding device (See Note 1)
• One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long
• One (1) lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line

Visual Signals

• One (1) watertight flashlight
• Twelve (12) flares of Type A, B, C or D, only six (6) can be Type D (See Note 2)

Vessel Safety Equipment

• One (1) anchor and at least 30 m (98’5”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
• One (1) manual bilge pump (See Note 3) ~OR~ Bilge-pumping arrangements

Navigation Equipment

• One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance
• Navigation lights (See Note 4)
• One (1) magnetic compass (See Note 5)
• One (1) radar reflector (See Note 6)

Fire Fighting Equipment

• One (1) 10BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a motor
• One (1) 10BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance

[/av_tab]
[av_tab title=’Boats 12m-24m’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-1ch3w5a’]
Tab Content goes here
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[av_tab title=’Yachts >24m’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ av_uid=’av-q7bfry’]

Boat Type & Length

• Sail and Power Boats over 24 m (78’9”)

Personal Lifesaving Appliances

• One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board
• One (1) reboarding device (See Note 1)
• One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 30 m (98’5”) long
• Two (2) SOLAS lifebuoys, of which:
  1. one (1) is attached to a buoyant line at least 30 m (98 ’5”) long; and
  2. one (1) is equipped with a self-igniting light.
• Lifting harness with appropriate rigging.

Visual Signals

• One (1) watertight flashlight
• Twelve (12) flares of Type A, B, C or D, only six (6) can be Type D (See Note 2)

Vessel Safety Equipment

• One (1) anchor and at least 50 m (164’1”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
• Bilge-pumping arrangements

Navigation Equipment

• Two (2) sound-signalling appliances that meets the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations
• Navigation lights (See Note 4)
• One (1) magnetic compass that meets the requirements set out in the Navigation Safety Regulations (See Note 5)
• One (1) radar reflector (See Note 6)

Fire Fighting Equipment

• One (1) 10BC fire extinguisher at all of the following locations:
  • at each access to any space where a fuel burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance is fitted;
  • at the entrance to any accommodation space; and
  • at the entrance to the machinery space.
• One (1) power-driven fire pump located outside the machinery space, with one fire hose and nozzle that can direct water into any part of the boat
• Two (2) axes
• Four (4) buckets of at least 10 L each

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Note 1 – Reboarding Device

A reboarding device is only required if the vertical height that a person must climb to reboard the boat from the water (freeboard) is over 0.5 m (1’8”).

Note 2 – Flares

Flares were previously referred to as Type A, B, C, and D. These terms may still be found in some product literature. The table below explains the relationship.

• Type A is now Rocket Parachute Flare
• Type B is now Multi-star flare
• Type C is now Hand Flare
• Type D is now Smoke Signal

Flares are not required for a boat that:

• is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile (1.852 km) from shore; or
• has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition.

The number of flares required may be reduced by 50 percent (the number of smoke signals cannot exceed 50% of the number of smoke signals given in the tables above) if the boat has one of the following:

• A means of two-way communication*;
• A 406 MHz personal locator beacon** that is worn by the boat operator; or
• A 406 MHz emergency position-indicating radio beacon***.
  • * The means of two-way communication may include a Very High Frequency (VHF) marine radio, a satellite telephone or a cellular telephone (if the VHF radio or the cellular telephone is located in a coverage area.)
  • * *A 406 MHz personal locator beacon (PLB) must meet the requirements under the Radiocommunication Act. All Canadian coded PLBs should be registered with the Canadian Beacon Registry at https://www.cbr-rcb.ca/cbr/ or by calling 1-877-406- 7671 (toll free). Registering a beacon is free of charge. Canadian coded beacons cannot be registered elsewhere.
  • *** A 406 MHz emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) must meet the requirements of the Ship Station Radio Technical Regulations and must also be registered with the Canadian Beacon Registry. See above.

Ensuring that your 406 MHz PLB, or EPIRB is registered, as well as updating the information regularly, will facilitate the task for search and rescue personnel in the event of a distress situation. For further information regarding VHF radios or EPIRBS please visit: https://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety/oep-navigation-radiocommsfaqs-1489.htm

Note 3 – Bailer and Manual Bilge Pump

A bailer or manual bilge pump is not required for a boat that cannot hold enough water to make it capsize or a boat that has watertight compartments that are sealed and not readily accessible.

Note 4 – Navigation Lights

Navigation lights are only required if you operate the boat after sunset, before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow, etc.).

Note 5 – Magnetic Compass

A magnetic compass is not required if the boat is 8 m (26’3”) or less and you operate it within sight of navigation marks.

Note 6 – Radar Reflector

Radar reflectors are required for boats under 20 m (65’7”) and boats built of mostly non-metallic materials. A radar reflector is not required if:

• the boat is used in limited traffic conditions, daylight and favourable environmental conditions, and where having a radar reflector is not essential to the boat’s safety; or
• the small size of the boat or its operation away from radar navigation makes it impossible to install or use a radar reflector.

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