Personal Watercraft (PWC)

Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements

The following list outlines the minimum safety equipment required on
Personal Watercraft (PWC). You may want to bring more equipment based on your type of boat, your activity and the current and forecasted weather and water conditions. You can review the equipment you must carry aboard your boat and get
specific information about each piece.

PERSONAL LIFESAVING APPLIANCES
One (1) lifejacket or PFD for each person on board.*
One (1) reboarding device

(See Note 1)
One (1) buoyant heaving line at least 15 m (49’3″) long.

*If every person on board a personal watercraft is wearing a lifejacket or a PFD of an appropriate size, you are only required to carry:

  • 1) a sound-signalling device;

  • 2) a watertight flashlight or three pyrotechnic distress signals other than smoke signals;

  • 3) a magnetic compass if the personal watercraft is navigated out of sight of navigation marks; and

  • 4) navigation lights if the personal watercraft is used after sunset or before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

NOTE: Lifejacket or PFD must be inherently buoyant.

An
Inherently Buoyant jacket is a foam vest that floats on its own. It offers buoyancy without the need for inflation.

VISUAL SIGNALS
One (1) watertight flashlight

OR

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

(See Note 2)
VESSEL SAFETY EQUIPMENT
One (1) manual propelling device

OR

One (1) anchor and at least 15 m (49’3″) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
One (1) bailer or manual bilge pump

(See Note 3)
NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT
One (1) sound-signalling device or appliance
Navigation lights

(See Note 4)
One (1) magnetic compass

(See Note 5)
One (1) radar reflector

(See Note 6)
FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT
One (1) 5BC fire extinguisher
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