Safe Boating Guidelines

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

From a 300-foot freighter, to a small kayak, each person on board must have a personal flotation devices, or PFD:

• On a boat 16 feet and over you must have a wearable PFD for each person on board.
• On a boat less than 16 feet, you may have a wearable or throwable PFD.
• The PFD must be United States Coast Guard (USCG) approved.

Vessel Registration

• Any vessel that has a motor of any type must have the registration numbers on each side of the forward half of the vessel and a current validation decal.
• The vessel operator must also carry the vessels certificate of registration on board.

Navigation Lights

• Navigation lights help you and other boaters determine which is the give-way vessel when encountering each other at night. These lights must be displayed from sunset to sunrise.
• Any vessel with a motor must have sidelights, red on port, green on starboard, and a white light in the stern.
• Non-powered vessels rowboats, canoes, kayaks must have a white light.

Fire Extinguishers

• A vessel including PWCs must have a fire extinguisher if any of the following conditions exist.
• Closed compartments under seat where portable fuel tanks may be stored.
• Closed storage compartments in which flammable or combustible materials may be stored.
• Closed living spaces
• Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation material.
• Permanently installed fuel tanks.

Requirements Specific to Personal Watercraft (PWC)

• Must have registration numbers and current validation decal along with the certificate of registration.
• Each person onboard must have on a wearable PFD.
• Must have a fire extinguisher.
• The lanyard of a PWC’s ignition safety switch must be attached to the person.

Any person born after December 31, 1978 must have a boating safety certificate to operate a PWC.