Boating safety exams include a section on required equipment, and the questions usually turn on a boat's length or type. The federal minimums below come from U.S. Coast Guard regulations. Your state can require more, so check your state's handbook as well.
Life jackets (PFDs)
- At least one wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on board, used according to its label.
- Boats 16 feet or longer also need one throwable device (such as a ring buoy or cushion), in addition to the wearables.
- A child under 13 on a boat that is underway must wear an approved life jacket unless they are below decks or in an enclosed cabin. Some states set a different age, and the stricter rule applies.
Related: What to Expect on Your State's Boating Safety Exam
Fire extinguishers
Motorboats must carry Coast Guard-approved portable fire extinguishers, and the number depends on the boat's length and whether it has a fixed extinguishing system in the engine space. Boats under 26 feet with outboard motors that are not carrying passengers for hire can be exempt, but only if their construction cannot trap flammable vapors. Any of these makes an extinguisher required:
- closed compartments where portable fuel tanks may be stored
- double bottoms not sealed to the hull or not completely filled with flotation
- closed living spaces
- closed storage compartments holding flammable materials
- permanently installed fuel tanks
Visual distress signals
On coastal waters (including the Great Lakes and territorial seas), boats 16 feet or longer must carry approved visual distress signals for both day and night use. Boats under 16 feet need night signals only when out between sunset and sunrise. Flares, orange smoke, orange distress flags and electric distress lights are the common options, each rated for day, night or both.
Sound-producing devices
Every boat needs a way to make an efficient sound signal. Vessels 12 meters (about 39 feet) or longer must carry a whistle, and vessels 20 meters or longer must also carry a bell. Smaller boats can use a horn or whistle.
Navigation lights
Required from sunset to sunrise and in restricted visibility. Which lights depends on whether you are under power, under sail, or at anchor.
Ventilation and backfire flame control
- Gasoline-powered boats with enclosed engine or fuel tank compartments must have ventilation to remove explosive vapors from the bilge.
- Gasoline inboard engines must have an approved backfire flame arrester. Outboard motors are exempt.
How exam questions test this
Most questions give you a boat (length, engine type, where it's operating) and ask what it needs. Memorize the thresholds: 16 feet (throwable, day-and-night distress signals), 26 feet (the outboard fire extinguisher exemption), and 12 meters (whistle).