Boat Safety Equipment Every Florida Vessel Should Carry

What boat safety equipment is required on a boat in Florida? Asking this question before the vessel is en route to the day’s sandbar destination is the best-case scenario. That’s not just because your overeager passengers keep leaning overboard to search for stingrays; in addition to the moral obligation a captain holds to make each trip as safe as possible, legal ramifications exist if safety measures are sub-par. Know the required safety equipment for boats in Florida. Keep those implements at the ready. And enjoy your time on the water secure with the knowledge that you’ve followed vital steps to best prepare your vessel for any foreseeable scenario.

Step One: Begin with the Florida boating required safety gear that is non-negotiable.

Size matters when it comes to Florida required boating safety gear. If the vessel is tiny, you’re going to be asked to stow different protective gear than a luxury yacht and vice versa. Kayaks and canoes carry their own unique requirements, but for our purposes, we’ll be examining requirements for watercraft 16 feet and up. For a full description of safety implements, consult the extensive list shared by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Elements on this list include (but may not be limited to):

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) – Count the number of passengers: that’s how many PFDs you must have on that boat when you set sail.
Throwable device – Starting with a vessel that is 16 feet up to 26, one throwable device is expected to be at the ready.
Fire Extinguisher – Different sizes of fire extinguishers exist. The size that’s right depends on (you guessed it) the size of the boat.
Sound Producing Device – Let’s talk bells and whistles. What do you have that makes noise? Be it a horn or the simple whistle, you’re required to have at least one.
Lighting – Should you become adrift in the night, emergency lighting will illuminate your position.
Visual distress signal – Don’t leave your state of emergency to interpretation. A visual distress signal clearly indicates that your vessel is floundering.

Step Two: Be ready for a Coast Guard search.

Setting aside the obvious moral implications of boater safety (or lack thereof), legal and financial ramifications for sub-par safety preparations can be extensive. Here is a short sampling of what can happen if Florida boating required safety gear is lacking or nowhere to be found when the Coast Guard searches a vessel.

After boarding your vessel, the Coast Guard will methodically check each of your required boating safety elements off a list. Take note that the safety elements must not only be present; they must also be in ship-shape condition. A ripped PFD with foam batting peeking from the edges is not going to make the cut. The same holds true for expired equipment.
Keep the ‘Coast Guard Trifecta’ in mind: If they ever detain your vessel, the Coast Guard is going to check whether you are obeying navigation rules, have your boat properly marked and registered, and (of course) if you have the correct safety elements on board and in good condition.
How to make absolutely sure you are in compliance: Ask for a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) before you even schedule the maiden voyage. There is no better way to ensure you have everything on board that the Coast Guard requires than to have the Coast Guard inspect your vessel. A VSC event comes at no cost to you and provides you with clear data regarding the state of your safety equipment. Schedule a VSC.

Step Three: Understand the ramifications of lacking safety protocols.

Perhaps you’re already convinced that ‘what boat safety equipment is required on a boat in Florida’ is a question that demands immediate attention. If not, consider the fines the Coast Guard will levy for negligence, legal action in the event of an accident, and moral implications.

Fines – Not equipped with each safety element required? Be prepared to pay up to $1,000 for that whistle, fire extinguisher, etc. A fine up to $1,000 for each missing implement can be levied. Think that’s steep? Imagine the ramifications of not having that fire extinguisher in the event of a fire, or that whistle when your vessel is taking on water. Again, having the implements is not enough. They must be in good working order.
Injury or loss of life – This is the tragic scenario of a sub-par safety protocol. An injury or loss of life that occurs because of missing safety elements is more than regrettable. It’s usually highly preventable as well.
Legal action – Federal law dictates the wearing of those life jackets for children under the age of 13. If that life jacket does not fit correctly and it is deemed that injury

occurred because of this, the owner of the boat can be sued. This is just one example of legal action that can be directed toward the boat owner/captain in the event of injury.

Step Four: Consider additional safety implements above and beyond the required.

When it comes to boat safety equipment in Florida, the bare minimum is good; additional safeguards are better. Consider the safety equipment detailed below as valuable add-ons to your onboard safety kit. The first suggestion stays on dry land, but it could be your most valuable asset if you encounter trouble out on the water.

Float plan – Who knows where you’re going? Someone should. In this document, indicate how many passengers are on board, your intended destination, and instructions regarding what to do if you do not return within a certain period of time. Download a standard float plan blueprint.
Extra engine components – Know your way around an engine? If so, it’s a solid idea to keep some spare parts on hand. That way, a challenge that is easily fixable can be immediately dealt with. The alternative? -Call for a tow.
VHF Marine Radio – There are no worries about spotty cellular service when one of these is on board.
Flashlight – It’s not required, but this handy implement is great to have – for obvious reasons.
Gas can – Fuel on board? When stowed safely, it’s a solid idea. The gas can is a simple add-on to the boater safety kit; just be sure to use an approved container. A list of these is outlined in this article by boating.org.

Step Five: Invest in training

Could it be that one of the best Florida safety equipment elements to can have on board is your own knowledge? Consider enrolling in a boat safety course. If your vessel is less than 27 feet, you may even be rewarded with an insurance policy discount. Even if you don’t receive a break on your insurance cost, however, that doesn’t mean the information is wasted. Accident statistics speak for themselves. Your skill out on the water, coupled with a well-stocked Florida boat safety equipment kit, can make a huge difference if you encounter trouble out on the waterways.

Though Florida does not issue boat licenses, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, must take a boating safety course. Successful completion of this course makes each participant the proud owner of a Boating Safety Identification Card. More information about the in-person, classroom, or on-the-water courses is available.
During a Florida boating safety course, expect comprehensive instruction. That is why boat safety courses are recommended even if they are not required due to age. Imagine feeling completely confident out on the water, secure that you can handle most (if not all) of what the day holds. This confidence can be achieved by completing a Florida boat safety course.

Step Six: Check Your Marine Insurance Policy

It’s not nestled between the whistle, PFDs, or fire extinguisher, but the invisible element of your Florida boating required safety gear is just as important: proper insurance. When you carry the correct amount of coverage tailored to you and your vessel, it’s as if an invisible shield follows you wherever you voyage, whether that be from marina to marina or a transatlantic crossing.

The required safety equipment Florida boaters need can seem standard; after all, the Coast Guard follows a checklist to ensure boats have it all on board. Marine insurance is not as transparent. Florida boaters are not legally required to elect it. Those who do are protected if someone is injured while out on the water or if an accident renders that vessel from seaworthy to salvage.

Call it boat safety or call it boat reassurance – either way, a marine policy protects the owner of the vessel. Consider the following coverage types.

Collision/Comprehensive damage – aka Hull coverage
Property damage liability
Bodily injury liability
Uninsured Boater
Medical Payments
Personal Effects
Additional endorsements such as fishing equipment, crew coverage, and towing.

For more information about marine insurance and the boat safety equipment required in Florida, contact the advisors at W3 insurance. These insurance professionals are avid boaters themselves, and they’ll steer you in the right direction regarding policies and safety implements.

Stay safe out there!