What you need to know about safety equipment before hitting the water, including what you must have on board, how to use it, how to stow it and how to keep it maintained.

 

Print out the safety equipment checklist to display on your vessel.

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Wherever you operate your boat you will be required to carry certain items of safety equipment. These include:

• Anchors

• Bailers

• Bilge pumps

• Distress flares

• Electronic position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs)

• Fire extinguishers

• Lifejackets

• Personal locator beacons (PLBs)

• Radios

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The exact quantity and type of equipment required will depend on how far offshore you travel, and what kind of vessel you are operating.

For more information, please refer to the 'Required safety equipment (matrix)' below. We also recommend that you use the BEST boat check to ensure you don't leave home without essential equipment.

You can further increase your safety on the water by having the recommended additional safety equipment in the checklist below.

Please download, print, laminate and display the checklists on your vessel.