Minimum Required Safety Equipment

Source: Transport Canada
Information last verified: 18/09/2010

The safety equipment Canada requires you to carry on board is based on the type and length of your boat. It must be on board, in good working order and always easy to reach so that it can be used in an emergency. You can find the length of your boat by reading the manufacturer’s product information or by measuring it yourself (from the front outside surface of the hull shell to the back outside surface of the hull shell – bow to stern).

Remember that these requirements apply only to pleasure craft and are the same whether you own, rent or borrow the boat. This includes typical boats like power boats, sail boats and personal watercraft, as well as less common boats like airboats, air cushion vehicles (hovercraft) and wing in ground effect vessels that are used only for recreation. They also apply to kiteboards.

If you want information on operating a vessel for work or commercial activities (non-pleasure craft), please visit www.tc.gc.ca/marinesafety or contact your local Transport Canada Centre.

These requirements do not apply to inflatable self-propelled water toys because they are not designed for use in open water. If you do choose to operate these toys in open water, they will be treated as pleasure craft and subject to the same strict rules. Remember as well that operating a propeller-driven surfboard is against the law in Canada.

The following list of equipment is the minimum that is required. You may want to bring more equipment based on your type of boat, your water activity and the current and forecasted weather and water conditions.

Remember: All safety equipment must be Canadian-approved and there must be enough lifejackets that fit, have enough buoyancy and are in good condition for everyone on board your boat.


Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements by Boat Type and Length
Boat Type and Length Personal Lifesaving Appliances Vessel Safety Equipment (See Note 1) Visual Signals (See Note 2) Navigation Equipment Fire Fighting Equipment
Paddleboats and Watercycles Equipment listed in 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 is not required if everyone on board is wearing a lifejacket or PFD. 1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

3. *One (1) reboarding device		 4. One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump

OR

Bilge-pumping arrangements		 If boat is over 6 m:
 5. One (1) watertight flashlight

6. Six (6) flares of Type A, B or C		 7. One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance

8. **Navigation lights

9. ***One (1) magnetic compass

10. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3)		 None
Canoes, Kayaks, Rowboats, Rowing Shells and Other Human-Powered Boats 1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2.One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

3.*One (1) reboarding device		 4. One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump

OR

Bilge-pumping arrangements		 If boat is over 6 m:
5. One (1) watertight flashlight

6. Six (6) flares of Type A, B or C		 7. One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance

8. **Navigation lights

9. ***One (1) magnetic compass

10. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3)		 None
Sailboards and Kiteboards
Equipment listed in 2, 3, 4 and 5 is not required if operator is wearing a lifejacket or PFD.
Lifejacket or PFD must NOT be fitted with an automatic inflator.		 1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

3. *One (1) reboarding device		 4. One (1) manual propelling device

OR

One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination

5. One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump		 None 6. One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance

7. **Navigation lights

8. ***One (1) magnetic compass

9. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3)		 None

Personal Watercraft (PWC)

Equipment listed in 3, 4, 5 and 11 is not required if everyone on board is wearing a lifejacket or PFD.

Lifejacket or PFD must be inherently buoyant		 1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

3. *One (1) reboarding device

4. One (1) manual propelling device

OR

One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination

5. One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump

6. One (1) watertight flashlight
OR

Three (3) flares of Type A, B or C

7. One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance

8. **Navigation lights

9. ***One (1) magnetic compass

10. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3)

 11. One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher

Sail and Power
Boats up to 6 m (19’8”)

1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

3. *One (1) reboarding device

 4. One (1) manual propelling device

OR

One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination

5. One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump

If boat is equipped with a motor

6. One (1) watertight flashlight

OR

Three (3) flares of Type A, B or C

7. One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance

8. **Navigation lights

9. ***One (1) magnetic compass

10. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3)		 11. One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher if equipped with an inboard engine, a fixed fuel tank of any size, or a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance
Sail and Power Boats over 6 m and up to 9 m (19’8” - 29’6”) 1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

OR

3. One (1) lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

4. *One (1) reboarding device		 4. One (1) manual propelling device

OR

One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination

5. One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump

6. One (1) watertight flashlight

7. Six (6) flares of Type A, B or C

 8. One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance

9. **Navigation lights

10. ***One (1) magnetic compass

11. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3)		 12. One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a motor

13. One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance
Sail and Power Boats over 9 m and up to 12 m (29’6” – 39’4”) 1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

3. One (1) lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

4. *One (1) reboarding device		 5. One (1) anchor and at least 30 m (98’5”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination

6. One (1) manual bilge pump

OR

Bilge-pumping arrangements		 7. One (1) watertight flashlight

8. Twelve (12) flares of Type A, B, C or D, not more than six (6) of which are of Type D		 9. One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance

10. Navigation lights

11. One (1) magnetic compass

12. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3)		 13. One (1) 10BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a motor

14. One (1) 10BC fire extinguisher if equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance
Sail and Power Boats over 12 m and up to 24 m (39’4” – 78’9”) 1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49 ’3”) long

3. One (1) lifebuoy equipped with a self-igniting light or attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m (49’3”) long

4. *One (1) reboarding device		 5. One (1) anchor and at least 50 m (164’1”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination

6. Bilge-pumping arrangements		 7. One (1) watertight flashlight

8. Twelve (12) flares of Type A, B, C or D, not more than six (6) of which are of Type D		 9. One (1) sound-signalling appliance that meets the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations

10. Navigation lights

11. One (1) magnetic compass that meets the requirements set out in the Navigation Safety Regulations

12. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3)		 13. One (1) 10BC fire extinguisher at all of the following locations:

at each access to any space where a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance is fitted;

at the entrance to any accommodation space; and at the entrance to the machinery space.

14. One (1) axe

15. Two (2) buckets of at least 10 L each
Sail and Power Boats over 24 m (78’9”) 1. One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board

2. One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 30 m (98’5”) long

3. Two (2) SOLAS lifebuoys, of which:

one (1) is attached to a buoyant line at least 30 m (98 ’5”) long; and

one (1) is equipped with a self-igniting light.

4. Lifting harness with appropriate rigging

5. *One (1) reboarding device		 6. One (1) anchor and at least 50 m (164’1”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination

7. Bilge-pumping arrangements		 8. One (1) watertight flashlight

9. Twelve (12) flares of Type A, B, C or D, not more than six (6) of which are of Type D		 10. One (1) sound-signalling appliance that meets the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations

11. Navigation lights

12. One (1) magnetic compass that meets the requirements set out in the Navigation Safety Regulations

13. One (1) radar reflector (See Note 3)		 14. One (1) 10BC fire extinguisher at all of the following locations:

at each access to any space where a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance is fitted;

at the entrance to any accommodation space; and

at the entrance to the machinery space.

15. One (1) power-driven fire pump located outside the machinery space, with one fire hose and nozzle that can direct water into any part of the boat

16. Two (2) axes

17. Four (4) buckets of at least 10 L each

*Only required if the vertical height that must be climbed to reboard the boat from the water (freeboard) is over 0.5 m (1’8”).
**Only required if the boat is operated after sunset, before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow, etc.).

***Not required if the boat is 8 m(26’3”) or less and operated within sight of navigation marks.

Note 1 – Exception for Bailers and Manual Bilge Pumps

A bailer or manual bilge pump is not required for a boat that cannot hold enough water to make it capsize or a boat that has watertight compartments that are sealed and not readily accessible.

Note 2 – Exception for Flares

Flares are not required for a boat that:

  • is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile (1.852 km) from shore; or
  • has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition.

Note 3 – Radar Reflectors

Radar reflectors are required for boats under 20 m (65’7”) and boats that are built of mostly non-metallic materials. A radar reflector is not required if:

  • the boat operates in limited traffic conditions, daylight and favourable environmental conditions, and where having a radar reflector is not essential to the boat’s safety; or
  • the small size of the boat or its operation away from radar navigation makes having a radar reflector impracticable.