Safety Equipment Requirements for Pleasure Craft

Safety Equipment Requirements for Pleasure Craft

  • The safety equipment on board a pleasure craft depends on the type and size of the pleasure The operator should consult the list of required safety equipment for the pleasure craft he/she is about to operate.
  • All equipment to be carried on board must be in good working order;readily accessible;available for immediate use;& maintained and /or replaced according to manufacturer’s instructions or recommendations
  • All portable fire extinguishers shall be fully charged Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements by Boat Type and Length

Human-powered pleasure craft (including canoes, kayaks, rowboats and rowing shells)

  1. One Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board

Note: A personal flotation device or lifejacket carried on board a human-powered pleasure craft operated in whitewater must be inherently buoyant.

  1. One buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long
  1. One reboarding device if the freeboard is greater than 5
  1. One watertight flashlight if the pleasure craft is over 6 m in length
  1. Six Canadian-approved flares of Type A (Rocket Parachute), B (Multi-Star) or C (Hand) if the pleasure craft is over 6 m in length

** Flares are not required for a pleasure craft that:

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

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

  1. One sound signalling appliance or device
  1. Navigation lights if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise, or in periods of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow, ).For a human-powered vessel, this requirement can be met with a watertight flashlight
  1. One magnetic compass unless the pleasure craft is 8 m (26’3”) or less and is operated within sight of seamarks (navigation marks).
  1. One radar reflector – see note

Personal watercraft (PWC)

If everyone onboard the PWC is wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device (PFD) of appropriate size, only the following equipment is required on board:

  1. A sound-signaling device;
  2. A watertight flashlight or three flares other than smoke signals;
  3. A magnetic compass, if the PWC is navigated outside of seamarks; and
  4. Navigation lights if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise, or in periods of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow, ).

Under all other circumstances, the safety equipment requirements for (sail and powered pleasure craft up to 6 m) must be followed.

Paddle boats, Watercycles and Sealed Hull, Sit-On-Top Kayaks

If everyone on board is wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device of appropriate size, only the following equipment is required on board:

  1. A sound-signaling device; and
  2. A watertight flashlight, if the paddleboat, watercycle or sit-on-top kayak is operated after sunset, before sunrise, or in periods of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow, ).

Under all other circumstances, the requirements for ( human-powered craft ) must be followed.

** A personal flotation device or lifejacket carried on board a human-powered pleasure craft operated in whitewater must be inherently buoyant.

Sailboards and Kite boards

If the operator of a sailboard or kite board is not wearing a lifejacket or personal flotation device of appropriate size , they must carry the equipment as for Sail and Power Craft up to 6m.In other words,if wearing a pfd or lifejaket,the only other gear required to be carried is a whistle.

Sail and powered pleasure craft up to 6 m

  1. One Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  1. One buoyant heaving line at least than 15 m (49’3”) long
  1. One reboarding device if the freeboard is greater than 0,5 m
  1. One watertight flashlight or three Canadian-approved flares of Type A (Rocket Parachute), B (Multi-Star) or C (Hand) – if boat is equipped with a motor

**: Flares are not required for a pleasure craft that

  • Is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile from shore; or
  • Has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official
  1. One manual propelling device or one anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  1. One bailer or one manual bilge pump

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

  1. One sound-signalling appliance or device
  2. Navigation lights if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise, or in periods of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow, ). **Sailing vessels less than 7 m in length can meet this requirement with a watertight flashlight **
  1. One magnetic compass unless the pleasure craft is 8 m (26’3”) or less and is operated within sight of sea marks (navigation marks).
  1. One 5BC fire extinguisher if the pleasure craft is equipped with an inboard engine, a fixed fuel tank of any size, or a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigeration appliance
  1. One radar reflector – see note

Sail and powered pleasure craft over 6 m and up to 9 m

  1. One Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  1. One buoyant heaving line at least than 15 m long or one lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m long
  1. One reboarding device if the freeboard is greater than 5 m
  1. One watertight flashlight
  1. Six Canadian-approved flares of Type A (Rocket Parachute), B (Multi-Star) or C (Hand)

** Flares are not required for a pleasure craft that:

  • Is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile from shore; or
  • Has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official
  1. One manual propelling device or one anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  1. One bailer or manual bilge pump

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

  1. One sound-signalling appliance or device
  2. Navigation lights if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise, or in periods of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow,). **Sailing vessels less than 7 m in length can meet this requirement with a watertight flashlight *
  1. One magnetic compass unless the pleasure craft is 8 m (26’3”) or less and is operated within sight of sea marks (navigation marks).
  1. One 5BC fire extinguisher if the pleasure craft is equipped with an inboard engine and one 5BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigeration appliance
  1. One radar reflector – see note

Sail and powered pleasure craft over 9 m and up to 12 m

  1. One Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  1. One buoyant heaving line at least than 15 m long
  1. One lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m long
  1. One reboarding device if the freeboard is greater than 5 m
  1. One watertight flashlight
  1. Twelve Canadian-approved flares of Type A (Rocket Parachute), B (Multi-Star),C (Hand), or D (smoke signals) – no more than 6 of type D

**Flares are not required for a pleasure craft 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
  1. One anchor and at least 30 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  1. One manual bilge pump or bilge-pumping arrangements

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

  1. One sound-signalling appliance or device
  1. Navigation lights
  1. One magnetic compass
  1. One 10BC fire extinguisher if the pleasure craft is equipped with motor and
  1. One 10BC fire extinguisher if the pleasure craft is equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigeration appliance
  1. One radar reflector – see note

Sail and powered pleasure craft over 12 m and up to 24 m

  1. OneCan adian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  1. One buoyant heaving line at least than 15 m long
  1. One lifebuoy equipped with a self-igniting light or attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m long
  1. One reboarding device if the freeboard is greater than 5 m
  1. One watertight flashlight
  1. Twelve Canadian-approved flares of Type A (Rocket Parachute), B (Multi-Star), C (Hand), or D (smoke signals)- no more than 6 of which can be type D

**Flares are not required for a pleasure craft that:

  • Is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile from shore; or
  • Has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official
  1. One anchor and at least 50 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  1. Bilge-pumping arrangements
  1. Sound-signalling appliances – pleasure craft over 20 m (65’7”) in length require a whistle (horn), and a fitted
  2. Navigation lights
  1. One magnetic compass that meets the requirements of the Navigation Safety Regulations
  1. One10BC 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
  1. One (1) axe
  1. Two (2) buckets – each bucket have a capacity of at least 10
  1. One radar reflector if the pleasure craft is operating in an area with known

Sail and powered pleasure craft over 24 m

  1. One Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  1. One buoyant heaving line at least than 30 m long
  1. Two SOLAS lifebuoys, of which:
  • one is attached to a buoyant line at least 30 m long; and
  • one is equipped with a self-igniting light
  1. Lifting harness with appropriate rigging
  1. One reboarding device if the freeboard is greater than 5 m
  1. One watertight flashlight
  1. Twelve Canadian-approved flares of Type A (Rocket Parachute), B (Multi-Star), C (Hand), or D (smoke signals) – no more than 6 can be of type D

** Flares are not required for a pleasure craft that:

  • Is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile from shore; or
  • Has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official
  1. One anchor and at least 50 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  1. Bilge-pumping arrangements Navigation equipment
  2. Sound-signalling appliances – pleasure craft over 20 m (65’7”) in length require a whistle (horn), and a fitted
  1. Navigation lights
  1. One magnetic compass that meets the requirements set out in the Navigation Safety Regulations
  1. One10B C 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
  1. One 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
  1. Two axes
  1. Four buckets – each bucket to have a capacity of at least 10
  1. One radar reflector – see note

****Note – Radar reflectors are required for boats under 20m and boats that are mostly built from non-metallic materials (wood/fibreglass) .They are not required if:

  • the boat operates in limited traffic conditions, daylight and favourable environmental conditions, and where having one is not essential to the boat’s safety
  • the size of the boat or its operation away from radar navigation makes having a radar reflector ( no radars – no need for a reflector)

In the Small Vessel regulations, the term “maintenance” is used to refer to the carriage of safety equipment for a pleasure craft. Basically, it means to maintain the equipment required to be carried so that it is capable of functioning properly.