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

For under 26′ in length, visual distress signal requirement is 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 is § 175.115, recorded from its source on 2026-08-25; source re-checked 2026-09-01.

- **Vessel length band:** under 26′ in length _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **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 _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **CFR section:** § 175.115 _(verified: appears in the quote below)_

## What the source says

> § 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

Last verified: 2026-09-01. Review by: 2027-08-25.
Part of [Recreational boat safety equipment requirements by vessel length](https://referencesource.org/recreational-boat-safety-equipment-requirements-by-length/).