Let’s begin your check list by creating an outline of the most important items you will need. We need to take into consideration your location. Although we will be customizing this checklist to your individual needs, for this project we will be focusing on South East Florida.  It’s the pin on the map to start with for regulations. The next part to take into consideration will be the size of your vessel. For simplicity we will be working with a 28 foot center console with twin engines. As a third part, we will be developing it as if you are going to be going offshore and inshore. Choosing the 28 foot center console will allow us to share a little of the two worlds of offshore and inshore, thus giving us information on the regulations involved.

Dividing the outline into six parts will make it easier to design your customized checklist.

US Coast Guard Required Safety Gear

This list is the USCG minimum required list for boating safety gear. New boats generally come supplied with the gear needed to meet these requirements, but new boaters and used boat owners should double-check their inventory to make sure they have these items. While this list is a great starting point, you should also check your own state laws and requirements. Also if you plan on crossing to the Bahamas, there are more documents and equipment required.

• Life Jackets – All recreational vessels are required to carry one wearable life jacket for each person on board. Any boat 16 feet or longer (except for kayaks and canoes) must also have one throwable (Type IV) flotation device.
• Visual Distress Signals – All boats used on coastal waters, including the Great Lakes, the territorial seas and the high seas must be equipped with visual distress signals (VDS) – such as flares. Boats under 16′ in length are required to have one VDS while boats over 16′ must have three coast guard approved distress signals.
• Fire Extinguishers – Boats 26′ or less must have a minimum of one B-1 type portable fire extinguishers on board. Boats 26′ – 40′ must have two B-1 type extinguishers or one B-2 type fire extinguisher. Boats that are 40′ to 65′ are required to have three B-1 type extinguishers or a combination of one B-1 and one B-2 type fire extinguisher.
• Ventilation – Boats built after 1980 must have at least two ventilation ducts able to ventilate the bilges of every closed engine and fuel tank compartment using gasoline. Boats built before 1980, must have at least two ventilation ducts which are capable of efficiently ventilating every closed compartment that contains a gasoline engine and/or tank, except those having permanently installed tanks which vent outside of the boat.
• Sound Producing Devices – Navigational rules require sound signals, such as whistles or bells, to be used under certain circumstances when meeting, crossing, or overtaking. Recreational boats are also required to use sound signals during periods of reduced visibility.
• Navigation Lights – Recreational boats are required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise and during periods of restricted visibility such as fog, rain, or haze.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has more current requirements. Please check for your correct sized boat.

• West Marineʼs Safe Boating Checklist
• Boat Safety Equipment Checklist

• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Documentation: What am I required to have on my boat?

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