Boating Checklist: Required Gear and a Pre-Departure Check
Updated October 31, 2026
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Federal rules set the minimum safety gear for recreational boats, and states can add more. This checklist is based on the U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety guide to federal requirements. Your rental company should supply the required gear; check that it is on board before you leave.
Required safety equipment (federal basics)
| Item | Basic rule |
|---|---|
| Life jackets | One U.S. Coast Guard-approved, wearable life jacket of the right size for each person on board |
| Throwable flotation device | Required on most boats 16 feet and longer (not canoes or kayaks) |
| Fire extinguisher | Required on most motorboats, depending on size and design |
| Visual distress signals | Required on coastal waters and the Great Lakes for most boats 16 feet and longer, and for all boats at night |
| Sound-producing device | A horn or whistle |
| Navigation lights | Required from sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility |
Florida adds its own rules, for example children under 6 must wear a life jacket on boats under 26 feet while underway. See Florida FWC boating regulations or your state's boating agency.
Before you leave the dock
- Check the weather and marine forecast at weather.gov/marine.
- Leave a float plan with someone on shore: where you are going and when you will be back.
- Check fuel, and plan to use about a third out, a third back and a third in reserve.
- Find the kill-switch lanyard and wear it while running.
- Know the boat's capacity plate limits.
- Bring water, sunscreen, a charged phone in a waterproof case and a VHF radio if the boat has one.
For renters
Ask for a walk-through of the controls, lights, anchor and safety gear. See do you need a license to drive a boat? and boat rental insurance.
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