How many fire extinguishers are required on an 18 foot boat

Go Outdoors Florida! Must be USCG-approved. Must be in serviceable condition. Fire Extinguisher Must be USCG-approved - Must be in serviceable condition One USCG-approved B-1 type fire extinguisher is required for all recreational motorboats except outboard-powered motorboats less than 26 feet long if constructed in a manner that will not allow gas fumes to accumulate.

Visual Distress Signal Required on the high sea and coastal waters only Must carry visual distress signals for nighttime use. Sound-producing Device Bell, horn, whistle etc. Backfire Flame Control An effective means of controlling backfire flame of all gasoline engines installed after April 25, , except outboard motors. Backfire flame arrestors must be USCG approved. Ventilation Boats built prior to Aug. Boats built after Aug. All others are required to have one approved device on each carburetor of all gas engines.

And again, each state has their own set of regulations regarding boating safety and boating safety equipment which may be beyond that of the USCG. Knowing what is required of you and then complying with those requirements will aid you in staying safe while remaining on the good side of the U.

Coast Guard and your boat insurance company. Coast Guard and the U. Coast Guard Auxiliary will provide a free boat safety check for any small boat. A Vessel Safety Check is completely voluntary and is done as a courtesy for boaters in order to verify all safety equipment is on board and in good working condition. Once all safety requirements have been met, be sure to file a Float Plan before heading out.

Required Boating Safety Equipment. Tri-Class Dry Chemical — Low toxicity. Moderately effective on Class A fires. Not a good choice for helm or nav station. Avoid excessive skin or eye contact. View their highly informative series of seven short videos. Typical fire extinguishers have a discharge time of only about 10 to 12 seconds, so you have to use them before the fire gets too large.

Deep-seated fires that seem to be out may flare up again, and this short discharge time, combined with the possibility of reflash, are important reasons to carry extra extinguishers onboard.

To quickly remember how to fight a fire with a handheld fire extinguisher, use this easy-to-remember acronym called PASS:. Engine room fires are the most common causes of onboard blazes, with 90 percent of onboard fires starting in the engine room, according to the Coast Guard.

The BoatU. Electrical wiring fires are most numerous 55 percent , followed by engine and transmission overheating 24 percent , DC engine circuits 12 percent and fuel leaks 8 percent. Select an automatic engine compartment system by calculating the volume in cubic feet of the engine space. Install the extinguishers either horizontally or vertically. Boaters can protect themselves by keeping up with routine maintenance of their mechanical and electrical systems.

This includes keeping water intake lines free of debris and weeds, replacing raw water pump impellers, and keeping exhaust manifolds and risers free from blockages caused by rust deposits. Unfortunately, fires do happen to even well-cared-for vessels. Often, the engine will start to sputter or someone will see or smell smoke, and the first impulse is to open the engine cover or the door to the engine compartment.

This well-intentioned reaction may be the worst thing to do, engulfing you in noxious billowing fumes and feeding oxygen to a smoldering fire.