Boat Equipment Checklist For Alabama

The U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will perform a Courtesy Marine Examination (CME) of your boat and equipment free of charge. This inspection covers federal and state requirements. If your boat meets all CME requirements, you will receive a CME decal. If your boat fails to meet all requirements, no report is made to any law enforcement agency.

Navigational Lights 

All vessels must utilize prescribed navigation lights when operating between sunset and sunrise and during inclement weather in accordance with the Boating Safety Laws. Operators of all vessels must comply with the requirements for the type and use of lights when anchored from sunset to sunrise. 

Personal Flotation Devices (PFD)

All recreational vessels must carry one wearable life jacket (PFD) for each person on board. Any vessel 16 feet and longer must also carry one throwable PFD (Type IV). 

• Wearable PFDs must be U.S. Coast Guard-approved and be labeled "Performance Level" 50, 70, 100 or 150 or may be older style Type I, II, III, or V, and be in good and serviceable condition. All must be appropriate size and type for the intended user. 
• Throwable PFD (type IV) must be labeled U.S. Coast Guard-approved and be in good and serviceable condition. Throwable devices must be immediately available for use. 
• Each person operating, riding on, or being towed by a personal watercraft must wear a PFD approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and must be appropriate for the intended user and activity. 

Child Life Jacket (Wearable PFD) Requirement

• All persons under eight (8) years of age, on any vessel, must, at all times, wear a U. S. Coast Guard-approved wearable personal flotation device that must be strapped, snapped, or zipped securely in place; except, that no personal flotation device should be required when inside an enclosed cabin or enclosed sleeping space.

• Children’s wearable life jackets (PFD) are approved for specific weight categories. Check the “User Weight” on the label and for an approval statement that will read something like: "Approved for use on recreational boats and uninspected commercial vessels not carrying passengers for hire by persons weighing “less than 30, lbs.,” “30 to 50 lbs.,” or “less than 50 lbs.,” or “50 to 90 lbs.,” 

  CAUTION: Wearable and Throwable Personal Flotation Devices must be readily accessible and of the proper size. Those that are torn, rotted, or damaged, lose their approval.

  CAUTION: A Type V wearable personal flotation device is a PFD approved for restricted uses. Type V wearable PFD's must be worn in open boats and when on the deck of larger boats in order to be classified as U. S. Coast Guard-approved.

Wearable Inflatable Life Jackets 

• U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable inflatable life jackets are authorized for use by persons 16 years of age and older (check the label).
• Wearable Inflatable life jackets require regular maintenance and attention to the condition of the inflator.
• They must have a full cylinder and all status indicators must be green or the device is not serviceable and does not satisfy the legal requirement for the wearable life jacket carriage requirement.

PFD Stowage

• Wearable and Throwable PFDs must be readily accessible.
• You should be able to put wearable PFDs on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.).
• Wearable and Throwable PFDs should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments, or have other gear stowed on top of them.

Fire Extinguishers

All recreational vessels less than 26 feet in length, as herein designated, must be equipped with a minimum of (1) portable 5-B, serviceable U. S. Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher of the type and capacity indicated. All recreational vessels 26 feet or more, but less than 40 feet must be equipped with a minimum of (2) portable 5-B, serviceable U. S. Coast Guard-approved fire extinguishers.

• All recreational vessels less than 26 feet in length with a model year 2018 or newer must have onboard fire extinguishers with the 5-B rating. 
• All recreational vessels less than 26 feet in length, with a model year between 1953 and 2017 may keep their fire extinguishers labeled B-I and B-II, as long as they are still serviceable.
• If there is a date stamped on the bottle, extinguishers must not be more than 12 years old according to that date.

• Good and serviceable means: 

  *If the extinguisher has a pressure gauge reading or indicator it must be in the operable range or position     
  *The lock pin is firmly in place
  *The discharge nozzle is clean and free of obstruction
  *The extinguisher does not show visible signs of significant corrosion or damage.

1. All inboard and inboard/outboard vessels, regardless of size, and all motor vessels having closed compartments wherein portable fuel tanks are stored or having permanently installed fuel tanks shall have a hand-portable or semi-portable fire extinguisher using carbon dioxide (CO2), foam, or other chemical ingredients such as is commonly used for extinguishing gasoline fires or petroleum product fires. Such fire extinguishers shall be approved by the U. S. Coast Guard.
2. All vessels equipped with any butane gas, propane gas, kerosene, gasoline, or petroleum product consuming device except outboard motors, such as a stove or lantern shall have a hand-portable or semi-portable fire extinguisher using carbon dioxide (CO2), foam, or other chemical ingredient such as is commonly used for extinguishing a fire produced by the use of such device. Such fire extinguishers shall be approved by the U. S. Coast Guard.
3. All motor vessels having closed or semi-closed cabins and any vessel with sleeping accommodations shall have a hand-portable fire extinguisher or semi-portable fire extinguisher using carbon dioxide (CO2), foam, or other chemical ingredients such as is commonly used for extinguishing fires. Such fire extinguisher shall be approved by the U. S. Coast Guard.

*Flammable liquids include gasoline, kerosene, oil, and stove alcohol.

Flame Arrestor

Every motorboat using gasoline as fuel, except outboard motors, shall have the carburetor or carburetors of every engine therein equipped with a U. S. Coast Guard approved flame arrestor or backfire trap.

Emergency Cut-off Switch

Engine Cut-Off Switch (ECOS): Under State law, ECOS are required when operating or giving permission to another person to operate, any vessel less than 24 feet in length having an open construction, and having more than 50 horsepower. 

Engine Cut-Off Switch (ECOS): Under Federal law: If operating in federally controlled waters, no person shall operate or give permission to operate any vessel less than 26 feet (7.92 Meters) in length, having an open cockpit and having more than three (3) horsepower, unless the said vessel is equipped with an emergency engine cut off switch (ECOS).

Note: Federally Controlled Waters

Boat and PWC operators must observe federal regulations when boating on:

• Coastal waters
• The Great Lakes
• Territorial seas
• Waters that are two miles wide or wider and are connected to one of the above.

The engine cut-off switch shall be a lanyard-type and shall be attached to the person, clothing, or personal flotation device of the operator. It shall be installed so that when any removal of the operator from the normal operating station will result in the immediate shut-off of the engine. Any person operating a personal watercraft that does not have self-circling capabilities must have a lanyard-type engine cut-off switch (ECOS), which must be attached to the person, clothing, or personal flotation device of the operator.

Sound Device

All vessels 4.9 meters (16 feet) or more in length must have on board the proper signal device for use during nighttime operation or inclement weather where visibility is greatly reduced.

Visual Distress Signals (Flares)

Visual Distress Signals (VDSs) allow boat operators to signal for help in the event of an emergency. VDSs are classified as day signals (visible in bright sunlight), night signals (visible at night), or both day and night signals. VDSs are either pyrotechnic (smoke and flames) or non-pyrotechnic (non-combustible).

Vessels operating on U.S. coastal waters, the Great Lakes, and territorial seas, as well as those waters connected directly, up to a point where the waterway is less than two nautical miles wide, must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard-approved visual distress signals (VDS). Vessels owned in the United States and operated on the high seas must also be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard-approved visual distress signals.

 The following vessels are not required to carry day signals but must carry night signals when operating from sunset to sunrise, in areas applicable to the requirement for carriage of VDSs.

• Recreational boats less than 16 feet in length.
• Boats participating in organized events, such as races, regattas or marine parades.
• Open sailboats less than 26 feet in length that are not equipped with propulsion machinery.
• Manually propelled boats.

Pyrotechnic Devices

If pyrotechnic VDSs are used, a minimum of three signals are required for day use and three signals for night use. Some pyrotechnic signals meet both day and night use requirements (Combination Flares).

The following combinations of signals are examples of VDSs that could be carried onboard to satisfy U. S. Coast Guard requirements:

• Three hand-held red flares (day and night) or...
• Three orange smoke signals (day only) and one electric light (night only).

Pyrotechnic devices should be stored in a cool, dry place, if possible. A watertight container painted red or orange and prominently marked “DISTRESS SIGNALS” or “FLARES” is recommended.

Pyrotechnics are universally recognized as excellent distress signals, but there is potential for injury and property damage if not handled properly. These devices produce a very hot flame with the potential to cause burns and ignite flammable materials.

Non-Pyrotechnic Devices

• Orange Distress Flag – used as a day signal only.
• Must be 3 x 3 feet with a black square and ball on an orange background.
• Must be marked with an indication that it meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements in 46 CFR 160.072.
• Most visible when attached and waved on a paddle or boat hook or flown from a mast.
• May be incorporated into devices designed to attract attention in an emergency, such as a balloons, kites, or floating streamer.
• Electric Distress Light – Acceptable for night use only.
• Automatically flashes the international SOS distress signal.
• Must be marked with an indication that it meets U.S. Coast Guard requirements in 46 CFR 161.013

It is prohibited to display visual distress signals on the water except when assistance is required to prevent immediate or potential danger to persons onboard a boat.

Federally Controlled Waters

Boat and PWC operators must observe federal regulations when boating on:

• Coastal waters
• The Great Lakes
• Territorial seas
• Waters that are two miles wide or wider and are connected to one of the above.

Diver's Flag

The diver's flag will be at least 300 mm (12 inches) square, colored red with a white 500 mm (2 inches) stripe running diagonally from the top staff corner to the bottom fly corner. Boat owners will stay at least 30.5 meters (100 feet) away from the displayed flag.

The text and graphics on this page are used by permission. Copyright © 2007 Boat Ed.