asset_type: threshold

body: Coast Guard rules on what safety gear a recreational boat must carry are not stated as one table -- personal flotation devices, portable fire extinguishers, and visual distress signals are each governed by a different subpart of 33 CFR Part 175, and each is triggered at a different length breakpoint (16, 26, 40, 65 feet). Getting this wrong is a citable offense during a boarding, and the probe run found search results dominated by marina blogs and boating-school pages rather than the regulation itself. Each record is one length band, stating exactly what each subpart requires at that band, quoted from the regulation. Answers 'how many fire extinguishers do I need on a 30-foot boat', 'do I need visual distress signals on a 14-foot boat', 'what size boat needs a throwable PFD'.

licence: Federal regulatory text (33 CFR), not copyrightable

title: Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length

type: dataset


body:
**Vessel length band:** 16 feet or more in length

**Visual distress signal requirement:** Visual distress signals must be onboard: devices suitable for day use and devices suitable for night use, or devices suitable for both day and night use

**CFR section:** § 175.110

> § 175.110 Visual distress signals required. (a) No person may use a boat 16 feet or more in length, or any boat operating as an uninspected passenger vessel subject to the requirements of <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-46/chapter-I> 46 CFR chapter I , subchapter C, unless visual distress signals selected from the list in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.130> § 175.130 or the alternatives in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.135> § 175.135 , in the number required, are onboard. Devices suitable for day use and devices suitable for night use, or devices suitable for both day and night use, must be carried. (b) Between sunset and sunrise, no person may use a boat less than 16 feet in length unless visual distress signals suitable for night use, selected from the list in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.130> § 175.130 or <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.135> § 175.135 , in the number required, are on board.

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-C>

length_band: 16 feet or more in length

title: 16 feet or more in length — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length

type: threshold


body:
**Vessel length band:** 16 feet or more in length

**Personal flotation device requirement:** At least one wearable PFD on board for each person, plus one throwable PFD onboard in addition to the total number of wearable PFDs required

**CFR section:** § 175.15

> § 175.15 Personal flotation devices required. Except as provided in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.17> §§ 175.17 and <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.25> 175.25 : (a) No person may use a recreational vessel unless— (1) At least one wearable PFD is on board for each person; (2) Each PFD is used in accordance with any requirements on the approval label; and (3) Each PFD is used in accordance with any requirements in its owner's manual, if the approval label makes reference to such a manual. (b) No person may use a recreational vessel 16 feet or more in length unless one throwable PFD is onboard in addition to the total number of wearable PFDs required in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.15#p-175.15(a)> paragraph (a) of this section.

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-B>


body:
**Vessel length band:** 16 or more, but less than 26

**Portable extinguishers required (no fixed system):** 1

**Portable extinguishers required (fixed system installed):** 0

**CFR section:** § 175.320 (a)(1)

> § 175.320 (a)(1) Length (feet) | Minimum number of 5-B portable fire extinguishers required 1 | If no fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | If fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | Under 16 | 1 | 0 | 16 or more, but less than 26 | 1 | 0 |

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-E>

length_band: 16 or more, but less than 26

title: 16 or more, but less than 26 — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length


body:
**Vessel length band:** 26 or more, but less than 40

**Portable extinguishers required (no fixed system):** 2

**Portable extinguishers required (fixed system installed):** 1

**CFR section:** § 175.320 (a)(1)

> § 175.320 (a)(1) Length (feet) | Minimum number of 5-B portable fire extinguishers required 1 | If no fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | If fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | Under 16 | 1 | 0 | 16 or more, but less than 26 | 1 | 0 | 26 or more, but less than 40 | 2 | 1 |

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-E>

length_band: 26 or more, but less than 40

title: 26 or more, but less than 40 — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length


body:
**Vessel length band:** 40 or more, but not more than 65

**Portable extinguishers required (no fixed system):** 3

**Portable extinguishers required (fixed system installed):** 2

**CFR section:** § 175.320 (a)(1)

> § 175.320 (a)(1) Length (feet) | Minimum number of 5-B portable fire extinguishers required 1 | If no fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | If fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | Under 16 | 1 | 0 | 16 or more, but less than 26 | 1 | 0 | 26 or more, but less than 40 | 2 | 1 | 40 or more, but not more than 65 | 3 | 2 |

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-E>

length_band: 40 or more, but not more than 65

title: 40 or more, but not more than 65 — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length


body:
**Vessel length band:** 65 feet or less in length

**Condition or exception:** One 20-B portable fire extinguisher may be substituted for two 5-B portable fire extinguishers

**CFR section:** § 175.320 (a)(1)

> (a) Recreational vessels 65 feet or less in length. (1) A recreational vessel 65 feet or less in length must carry at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers set forth in table 1 to <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.320#p-175.320(a)(1)> § 175.320(a)(1) . A vessel less than 26 feet in length, propelled by an outboard motor, is not required to carry portable fire extinguishers if the construction of the vessel will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors. Table 1 to <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.320> § 175.320 (a)(1) Length (feet) | Minimum number of 5-B portable fire extinguishers required 1 | If no fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | If fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | Under 16 | 1 | 0 | 16 or more, but less than 26 | 1 | 0 | 26 or more, but less than 40 | 2 | 1 | 40 or more, but not more than 65 | 3 | 2 | 1 One 20-B portable fire extinguisher may be substituted for two 5-B portable fire extinguishers. |

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-E>

length_band: 65 feet or less in length

title: 65 feet or less in length — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length


body:
**Vessel length band:** Canoes and kayaks 16 feet or more in length

**Personal flotation device requirement:** Exempted from carriage of the additional throwable PFD required under § 175.15(b)

**CFR section:** § 175.17

> § 175.17 Exemptions. (a) Canoes and kayaks 16 feet or more in length are exempted from the requirements for carriage of the additional throwable PFD required under <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.15#p-175.15(b)> § 175.15(b) .

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-B>

title: Canoes and kayaks 16 feet or more in length — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length


body:
**Vessel length band:** less than 16 feet in length

**Visual distress signal requirement:** Between sunset and sunrise, visual distress signals suitable for night use must be on board

**CFR section:** § 175.110

> § 175.110 Visual distress signals required. (a) No person may use a boat 16 feet or more in length, or any boat operating as an uninspected passenger vessel subject to the requirements of <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-46/chapter-I> 46 CFR chapter I , subchapter C, unless visual distress signals selected from the list in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.130> § 175.130 or the alternatives in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.135> § 175.135 , in the number required, are onboard. Devices suitable for day use and devices suitable for night use, or devices suitable for both day and night use, must be carried. (b) Between sunset and sunrise, no person may use a boat less than 16 feet in length unless visual distress signals suitable for night use, selected from the list in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.130> § 175.130 or <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.135> § 175.135 , in the number required, are on board.

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-C>

length_band: less than 16 feet in length

title: less than 16 feet in length — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length


body:
**Vessel length band:** less than 26 feet in length

**Condition or exception:** A vessel propelled by an outboard motor is not required to carry portable fire extinguishers if the construction of the vessel will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors

**CFR section:** § 175.320(a)(1)

> (a) Recreational vessels 65 feet or less in length. (1) A recreational vessel 65 feet or less in length must carry at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers set forth in table 1 to <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.320#p-175.320(a)(1)> § 175.320(a)(1) . A vessel less than 26 feet in length, propelled by an outboard motor, is not required to carry portable fire extinguishers if the construction of the vessel will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors.

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-E>

length_band: less than 26 feet in length

title: less than 26 feet in length — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length


body:
**Vessel length band:** more than 65 feet in length

**Condition or exception:** Portable fire extinguishers are set by gross tonnage rather than length: 20-B portable fire extinguishers, 1 up to 50 gross tons, 2 above 50 up to 100, 3 above 100 up to 500, 6 above 500 up to 1,000, and 8 above 1,000

**CFR section:** § 175.320(b)(1)

> (b) Recreational vessels more than 65 feet in length. (1) A recreational vessel more than 65 feet in length must carry at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers specified for its tonnage as set forth in table 4 to <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.320#p-175.320(b)(1)> § 175.320(b)(1) . Table 4 to <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.320> § 175.320 (b)(1) Gross tonnage— | Minimum number of 20-B portable fire extinguishers | More than | Not more than | | 50 | 1 | 50 | 100 | 2 | 100 | 500 | 3 | 500 | 1,000 | 6 | 1,000 | | 8 |

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-E>

length_band: more than 65 feet in length

title: more than 65 feet in length — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length


body:
**Vessel length band:** Under 16

**Portable extinguishers required (no fixed system):** 1

**Portable extinguishers required (fixed system installed):** 0

**CFR section:** § 175.320 (a)(1)

> § 175.320 (a)(1) Length (feet) | Minimum number of 5-B portable fire extinguishers required 1 | If no fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | If fixed fire extinguishing system in machinery space | Under 16 | 1 | 0 |

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-E>

length_band: Under 16

title: Under 16 — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length


body:
**Vessel length band:** under 26′ in length

**Visual distress signal requirement:** A sailboat of completely open construction, not equipped with propulsion machinery, need not comply with § 175.110, but must carry visual distress signals suitable for night use between sunset and sunrise

**CFR section:** § 175.115

> § 175.115 Exceptions. The following persons need not comply with <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.110> § 175.110 ; however, each must carry on board visual distress signals suitable for night use, selected from the list in <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.130> § 175.130 or <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/section-175.135> § 175.135 , in the number required, between sunset and sunrise: (a) A person competing in any organized marine parade, regatta, race, or similar event; (b) A person using a manually propelled boat; or (c) A person using a sailboat of completely open construction, not equipped with propulsion machinery, under 26′ in length.

Source: <https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-33/chapter-I/subchapter-S/part-175/subpart-C>

length_band: under 26′ in length

title: under 26′ in length — Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length