Personal Boating Safety Equipment
What safety equipment should I have on me when I am boating or what safety equipment should I add to my lifejacket is a common question ask at boating safety events.
Here is the safety equipment that I and other people I know use. I will start with the required equipment when a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary member is out on patrol and then cover equipment that is commonly added to the minimum equipment list.
Lifejacket: Orange lifejacket with SOLAS reflective tape. Ok, I know, getting your crew into bright orange lifejackets with big pieces of silver reflective tape on it is a bit of a hard sell for most recreational boaters. However many inflatable lifejackets have an outer cover that is more stylish and the orange bladder only shows on inflation. For recreation boaters having your crew wear a lifejacket no matter what color it is is good. In Washington State children 12 years old and younger must wear a USCG approved lifejacket at all times when underway in a vessel under 19 feet long unless they are in a fully enclosed area. Many parents have their children put on a lifejacket as soon as they get to the marina and go onto the dock and boat. Many people also put their pets in lifejackets.
