Equipment
2.1 Overview
Objectives
After completing this section you will be able to:
- Understand why it is important to have specific equipment on board.
- Identify mandatory equipment requirements for all vessels.
- Understand how to use and maintain key pieces of safety equipment.
- Understand how to select, use and maintain life jackets and PFDs.
- Identify other equipment you should have on board in order to ensure your safety and security on the water.
All pleasure craft operating in Canada are required by the Small Vessel Regulations, to carry certain safety equipment. The list of equipment that follows is current at the time of printing.
Each year the Canadian Coast Guard publishes the Safe Boating Guide outlining mandatory equipment requirements.
Each year the Canadian Coast Guard publishes the Safe Boating Guide outlining mandatory equipment requirements.
Remember, the Coast Guard requirements are the minimum amount of safety equipment you need on board.
Equipment is carried for safety reasons. Equipment must be maintained so that it is capable of functioning properly as described in the Small Vessel Regulations. It must be readily accessible and the operator must know how to use it.
Included with this list of mandatory equipment is a list of exceptions that apply to certain vessels under certain operating conditions.
Throughout the following the listings of mandatory equipment are discussions about some pieces of this equipment that you must know.
We complete our look at equipment with a brief discussion of other items that will aid you in an emergency.
Next Page: 2.2 Life Jackets