What Safety Equipment is Required on a Boat in Florida?
Boating is a very fun activity and there are many water enthusiasts in Florida. Unfortunately, boating can also result in an accident that causes severe injuries. To ensure that everyone stays safe and to help accident victims in the event of a crash, state legislators have enacted many laws requiring boat operators to have certain types of safety equipment on their vessels. Below, our Florida boat crash lawyer explains what these are.
Visual Distress Signals
All watercraft must have daytime visual distress signals onboard. The only exception to this are smaller watercraft that measure 16 feet in length or less. Kayaks and other vessels that fit into this category must have nighttime signals onboard. Watercraft that are between 16 feet and 65 feet must have daytime and nighttime visual distress signals. Some of the most common types of distress signals are orange smoke signals, red handheld signal flares, and parachute flares.
Personal Floatation Devices
Regardless of the type of personal flotation device (PFD) used, they must be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. All vessels must contain at least one PFD for every passenger and they must be immediately accessible in the event of a passenger overboard (POB). Each PFD must also be an appropriate size and be in good condition.
Type IV PFDs must be present on any watercraft that is 15 feet in size or larger. These types of PFDs can be thrown into the water and they are necessary if someone goes overboard. These must also be in good condition.
Fire Extinguishers
Fires can easily break out on a boat. The electrical system in a boat may fail or be defective, causing a fire. Additionally, many boat fires are started due to fuel leaks. To lessen the chance that no one becomes hurt in the event of a fire, all boats are required to have a fire extinguisher on board. The type of extinguisher that is required will depend on the size of the boat. The following regulations apply to fire extinguishers on boats:
- One B-I fire extinguisher must be present on boats that are less than 26 feet,
- One B-II or two B-1 extinguishers are required on boats measuring between 26 and 40 feet, and
- Larger watercraft that measure between 40 and 65 feet require three B-I extinguishers and one B-II.
Our Boat Crash Attorney in Florida Can Help When You Are In A Boating Accident
If you have been injured on a boat, you can pursue a claim for compensation. This includes if your injuries were made worse due to a lack of safety equipment on a vessel. At 888-BOAT-LAW (The Law Offices of Frank D. Butler, P.A.), our Florida boat crash attorneys can advise on the facts of your case so you can recover the full compensation you deserve. Call us today or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get more information.
Source:
dco.uscg.mil/CG-ENG-4/PFD/
