Making Sure Your Boat Safety Kit is Updated

Anyone can buy a premade boat safety kit to toss aboard. But it takes more than a kit to make a truly safe boat. Don't stop with a safety kit's watertight flashlight and buoyant heaving line. To be fully prepared when you hit the water, make sure your boat is outfitted with the right number of life jackets and a good fire extinguisher. You should also have a back-up distress signal system in case your original system fails.

To put together a safety kit that's truly trustworthy, a premade kit can be a good start—but you should also stock your craft with other safety gear, including dependable life jackets, a reliable fire extinguisher, visual distress signals, and a loud airhorn.

Life jackets are, quite simply, the law. The U.S. Coast Guard says all boats must have life preservers on-board, and with good reason: almost 75 percent of boating fatalities are caused by drowning, and more than 80 percent of that number were not wearing a life jacket. So make sure your boat is equipped with the safest life jackets.

There are different kinds of life jackets, ranging from standard foam to cutting-edge self-inflating models. The Coast Guard requires boats to have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on-board. Boats over 16 feet long must also have a throwable life preserver as well. There are five types of PFDs (personal flotation devices):

• Type I: An offshore life jacket is the bulkiest model, but it also provides the best flotation. It's best used for open, rough, or remote waters.
• Type II: A near-shore buoyant vest is more comfortable than a Type I model and is most appropriate for calm, inland waters.
• Type III: A floatation aid is good for calm, inland waters and is often used with water sports.
• Type IV: A throwable device, such as a floatable cushion or a ring buoy.
• Type V: A special use device is designed for a specific activity, such as kayaking or whitewater rafting. This model often incorporates a foam, flotational element with an inflatable chamber.

If your boat has fuel on board or is fuel-powered, the Coast Guard requires that your boat carry at least one fire extinguisher. Some experts say larger boats should have more than one extinguisher on board. There are different types of extinguishers, and some experts recommend a tri-class extinguisher since they're effective on fires fueled by wood, paper, canvas, and fiberglass, as well as electrical and liquid fires.

Whatever you choose, remember that portable fire extinguishers require maintenance. Requirements differ, but you'll want to:

• Inspect the unit monthly, even more often if it's exposed to weather
• Weigh the extinguisher annually to make sure it's fully charged
• Twice a year, turn the unit upside-down to shake up any chemicals that may have settled at the bottom
• Recharge or replace a unit after any use
• Check the manual or manufacturer's website for any special instructions

While you're making your boat safe, you can follow a few simple tips to maintain your boat's overall health. Read our Simple Ways to Extend the Life of Your Boat article for quick suggestions, including off-season storage tips, for getting maximum "mileage" out of your boat.

And if you're spending a lot of time on your boat, make sure you're following the unwritten rules of the water. Our Common Courtesy on the Water article is a valuable lesson or refresher.

The Coast Guard has strict requirements about which types of visual distress signals should be carried by different sizes of boats. A good safety kit will have several different signals, including handheld orange smoke, flags, sea marker dye, and flares.

The Coast Guard has strict requirements about which types of visual distress signals should be carried by different sizes of boats. A good safety kit will have several different signals, including handheld orange smoke, flags, sea marker dye, and flares.

Flares can be highly effective distress signals, but they also require care. Flares are stamped with a manufacture date, and the Coast Guard says a flare's shelf life is 3 years from the date of manufacture, although the American Boating Association recommends keeping the backups aboard for an additional 3 years, since they're still likely to work.

However, after 6 years, it's time to retire the backup flares. Instead of tossing them, contact your local fire department, sanitation department, or EPA office to learn the local hazardous waste disposal rules. Or, you could contact your local Coast Guard Auxiliary to see if they would like to use the flares for training purposes.

Consider equipping your boat with a flare gun to ensure the flare is widely seen. The most common 12-guage flare pistols only launch pyrotechnics about 250 feet, while some parachute flare launchers can shoot up to 1,000 feet. A few other notes about flares:

• Don't launch a flare unless you're sure someone will see it.
• Fire the flare at a 60-degree angle away from the vessel, and downwind. And never shoot straight up, since the flare could set your sail or mast on fire, if you're in a sailboat.
• Handheld flares produce dangerous ash and slag, so handle them carefully using leather gloves.

There's more to being a responsible boater than being safe. Making sure your craft is environmentally sound is important, too. Get some tips on being an environmentally conscientious boater in our Keeping Your Boat Green article.

The Coast Guard requires boats under 65.6 feet (20 meters) to carry a sound-producing device, while boats longer than 65.6 feet must carry both a whistle and a bell that are audible for one nautical mile. But there's no harm in being cautious, so you might want to make sure to add an airhorn that's especially loud to ensure your calls are heard.

Make sure your boat is adequately protected. Allstate boat insurance protects your craft, your passengers, and your property starting at just $24 a month.

Get an easy no-obligation quote, call us at 1-866-601-BOAT (1-866-601-2628), or find an agent near you to learn how we can help you build the right boat insurance policy.

Published: June 2011