WaterWays Ontario

Safe Boating

Boating Safety Overview - Safety Equipment

The safety equipment boaters are required to have on board varies with the size and type of boat. However, the mandatory equipment is only the minimum. You can carry more for an extra margin of safety. All equipment must be in good working order and readily available for quick access in an emergency. Boaters must also know how to use the equipment.

Sailboards:

One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.

  1. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  2. A paddle, oar, or other manual propelling device
  3. A watertight flashlight or three Canadian approved type A B or C flares
  4. A sound signalling device or appliance (whistle or air horn)
  5. Approved navigation lights if the craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility

NOTE: 2, 3, and 4 are not mandatory if all persons aboard are wearing approved lifejackets or PFDs or if the sailboard is in an official competition

Paddleboats and “Water Cycles” less than 6 meters (20 feet) long

  1. One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.
  2. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  3. A watertight flashlight or three Canadian approved type A B or C flares
  4. A sound signalling device or appliance (whistle or air horn)
  5. Approved navigation lights if the craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility

NOTE: 2, and 3 are not mandatory if all persons aboard are wearing approved lifejackets or PFDs

Canoes, Kayaks, Rowboats and Rowing Shells not over 6 metres (20 feet) long

  1. One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.
  2. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  3. A paddle, oar, or other manual propelling device or an anchor with at least 15 metres (50 feet) or cable, rope and/or chain
  4. One bailer or manual water pump with enough hose to pump water from the bilge over the side of the vessel
  5. A sound signalling device or appliance (whistle or air horn)
  6. Approved navigation lights if the craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility

Un-powered Pleasure Craft (i.e. sailboat) not more than 6 metres (20 feet) long

  1. One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.
  2. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  3. A paddle, oar, or other manual propelling device or an anchor with at least 15 metres (50 feet) or cable, rope and/or chain
  4. One Class 5BC fire extinguisher if the vessel is equipped with a fuel burning cooking, heating or refrigeration appliance
  5. One bailer or manual water pump with enough hose to pump water from the bilge over the side of the vessel
  6. A sound signalling device or appliance (whistle or air horn)
  7. Approved navigation lights if the craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility

NOTE: 5 is not required for self-bailing, sealed hull sailing vessels equipped with recess type cockpit that cannot contain enough water to capsize the vessel – or – a multi-hull vessel that has subdivided multiple sealed hull construction

Personal Watercraft (PWC)

  1. One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.
  2. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  3. A watertight flashlight or three Canadian approved type A B or C flares
  4. A sound signalling device or appliance
  5. Approved navigation lights if the craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility (The Canadian Coast Guard and PWC manufacturers advice against operating these vessels at night)
  6. A paddle, oar, or other manual propelling device or an anchor with at least 15 metres (50 feet) of cable, rope and/or chain
  7. One bailer or manual water pump with enough hose to pump water from the bilge over the side of the vessel
  8. One Class 5BC fire extinguisher

NOTE 6, 7, and 8 are not required if all people on board are wearing approved flotation devices

Powered Pleasure Craft up to 6 meters (20 feet) long

  1. One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.
  2. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  3. A paddle, oar, or other manual propelling device or an anchor with at least 15 metres (50 feet) or cable, rope and/or chain
  4. A watertight flashlight or three Canadian approved type A B or C flares
  5. One Class 5BC fire extinguisher if the craft is equipped with an inboard engine, a fixed fuel tank, or any fuel burning cooking, heating or refrigeration device
  6. One bailer or manual water pump with enough hose to pump water from the bilge over the side of the vessel. The bailer is not required for multi-hull vessels with subdivided multiple sealed hull construction
  7. A sound signalling device or appliance (whistle or air horn)
  8. Approved navigation lights if the craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility

Pleasure Craft over 6 metres (20 feet) but less than 8 metres (26 feet)

  1. One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.
  2. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long – or – one approved lifebuoy with an outside diameter of 61 centimetres or 76.2 centimetres (24 or 30 inches) attached to a buoyant line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  3. A re-boarding device (ladder) if the freeboard of the vessel is greater than 0.5 metres (20 inches)
  4. A paddle, oar, or other manual propelling device or an anchor with at least 15 metres (50 feet) of cable, rope and/or chain
  5. A watertight flashlight
  6. Six Canadian approved type A B or C flares. Signalling devices are not required if the vessel operates in a river, canal or lake and can be no more than one mile from shore – or – if it is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for official competition and has no sleeping arrangements
  7. One Class 5BC fire extinguisher if the craft is a power-driven vessel and another 5BC fire extinguisher if the vessel has a fuel burning cooking, heating or refrigeration appliance
  8. One bailer or manual water pump with enough hose to pump water from the bilge over the side of the vessel
  9. A sound signalling device or appliance (whistle or air horn)
  10. Approved navigation lights if the craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility

Pleasure Craft over 8 metres (26 feet) but less than 12 metres (40 feet)

  1. One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.
  2. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  3. One approved lifebuoy with an outside diameter of 61 centimetres or 76.2 centimetres (24 or 30 inches) attached to a buoyant line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  4. A re-boarding device (ladder) if the freeboard of the vessel is greater than 0.5 metres (20 inches)
  5. An anchor with at least 30 metres (100 feet) of cable, rope and/or chain
  6. A watertight flashlight
  7. Twelve Canadian approved type A B C or D flares of which no more than 6 are type D. Flares are not required if the vessel operates in a river, canal or lake and can be no more than one mile from shore – or – if it is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for official competition and has no sleeping arrangements
  8. One Class 10BC fire extinguisher if the craft is a power-driven vessel and another 10BC fire extinguisher if the vessel has a fuel burning cooking, heating or refrigeration appliance
  9. One bailer
  10. One manual water pump with enough hose to pump water from the bilge over the side of the vessel.
  11. A sound signalling device or appliance (whistle or air horn)
  12. Approved navigation lights

Pleasure Craft over 12 metres (40 feet) but less than 20 metres (65 feet) power and sail

  1. One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.
  2. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  3. One approved lifebuoy with an outside diameter of 61 centimetres or 76.2 centimetres (24 or 30 inches) attached to a buoyant line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long and equipped with a self-igniting light
  4. A re-boarding device
  5. An anchor with at least 50 metres (165 feet) of cable, rope or chain
  6. A watertight flashlight
  7. Twelve Canadian approved type A B C or D flares of which no more than 6 are type D.
  8. One Class 10BC fire extinguisher at each access to any space where a fuel burning cooking, heating or refrigeration appliance is fitted, at the entrance to any accommodation space, and at the entrance to the engine room
  9. Bilge pumping arrangements
  10. Two buckets with a capacity of at least 10 litres (10 quarts) each
  11. One fire axe
  12. Two sound signalling appliances
  13. Approved navigation lights

Pleasure Craft over 20 metres (65 feet)

  1. One approved personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket of appropriate size for everyone on board. Each device must have the Department of Transport Canada or Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans label and be in good working order.
  2. A buoyant heaving line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long
  3. Two approved lifebuoys with an outside diameter of 61 centimetres or 76.2 centimetres (24 or 30 inches) attached to a buoyant line at least 15 metres (50 feet) long, one of which is equipped with a self-igniting light
  4. A re-boarding device and a lifting harness with rigging
  5. An anchor with at least 50 metres (165 feet) of cable, rope or chain
  6. A watertight flashlight
  7. Twelve Canadian approved type A B C or D flares of which 6 are type A B or C and at least two are type D.
  8. One Class 10BC fire extinguisher at the galley area, at the entrance to any accommodation space, and at the entrance to the engine room
  9. Bilge pumping arrangements with capacity equal to the vessel’s fire pump
  10. Four buckets with a capacity of at least 10 litres (10 quarts) each
  11. Two fire axes
  12. A power fire pump adjacent to but outside the machinery space with fire hose and nozzle. The jet of water must reach all parts of the vessel.
  13. One sound signalling appliance
  14. An unbreakable signalling mirror (heliograph)
  15. Approved navigation lights

Equipment Details

Lifejackets & PFDs

NOTE: life-saving cushions are no longer officially authorized flotation equipment.

To be legal, all flotation equipment must have the approved label from the Department of Transport Canada or the Canadian Coast Guard/Fisheries and Oceans and be in good working order. They must be an appropriate size for the wearer, fit snugly, and allow normal movement. All passengers – particularly younger ones – should wear their floatation devices while on deck or in the open. Passengers should, at the very least, know where the devices are and be able to reach them quickly and easily if necessary.

Lifejackets

Standard “keyhole” lifejackets are reversible and are available in orange, red, or yellow. They come in different adult and children sizes, with weight/size designation on the label. They are easy to put on and, when properly worn, they are designed to turn the wearer face up in the water and hold the head above water. They are bulky and uncomfortable.

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

These come in many styles: keyhole jackets, vests, coats and coveralls, and are available in many approved colours. They are not reversible and they will not turn the wearer face up in the water. They are more comfortable and suitable for constant wear. The new inflatable PFDs are legal on the condition that they are worn in an open boat, on deck or in the cockpit. They are not approved for use by people under the age of 16 years or lighter than 36.3 kg (80 pounds). They are not approved for use on personal watercraft. The ones that inflate automatically when the wearer goes into the water cannot be used on sailboards.

NOTE: PFDs and Life Jackets are no longer legal if they have been altered, damaged or repaired.

Heaving Lines

These lines are designed to float on the water for two reasons; to minimize the likelihood of getting tangled in the propeller and to make it easy for the person in the water to grab hold. Because they tend to be light they can be difficult to throw upwind (the usual approach to a “man overboard”). A float or life ring makes throwing easier.

Bailers

These come in many different styles and different pumping capacities. It is vital (and required by regulation) to have enough hose attached to carry the water from the bilge overboard.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers that meet the requirements must be approved by Transport Canada, Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC), United States Coast Guard for Marine Use or the British Board of Trade for Marine Use. The label will designate A B C or D Classes. The powder in dry chemical extinguishers tends to pack down. This type should be turned upside down and shaken vigorously every few weeks and must be tested every three years. Carbon dioxide (CO2) extinguishers should be weighed annually and recharged when the capacity drops to 90 per cent. Halon extinguishers should also be inspected regularly.

Flares

These have a “best before” date and are usually good for three or four years after you purchase them. They must be replaced according to manufacturer’s instructions and the old ones safely disposed of.

Other Equipment

Boaters are not required by regulation to carry these items but they are worthwhile.

  • First Aid Kit. The longer the trip, the farther you stray from shore and help, the more sophisticated and comprehensive your kit should be. Knowledge of first aid is also valuable.
  • Emergency Kit. If you are caught out overnight, a spare flashlight, whistle and knife could come in handy. Drinking water, rations, dry clothing and other gear will make a difference to your comfort and safety.
  • Spare Parts. Shear pins, props, belts, hoses, clamps, spark plugs and other items such as engine oil may help you get home. The tools you’ll need to replace them, knowledge of your engine(s) and a complete manual with troubleshooting guide and repair procedures will help as well.
  • Plugs and Sealants. Underwater sealing compounds along with tapered wooden plugs and scrap pieces of rubber and wood could keep you afloat in the event of a leak or hole.