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Update: July 22, 2003
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Minimum Required Safety Equipment
for Canadian Waterways 1999

Pleasure Yachts Regulations



Canoes, Kayaks, Rowboats and Rowing Shells
(not over 6 M in length)


PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

  1. one Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  2. one buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length


BOAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT

  1. one manual propelling device OR an anchor with not less than 15 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  2. one bailer or one manual water pump fitted with or accompanied by sufficient hose to enable a person using the pump to
  3. pump water from the bilge of the vessel over the side of the vessel


NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

  1. a sound-signalling device or a sound-signalling appliance
  2. navigation lights that meet the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset and before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility


Personal Watercraft




PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT
  1. one Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  2. one buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length


DISTRESS EQUIPMENT

  1. a watertight flashlight OR 3 Canadian approved flares of Type A, B or C


NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

  1. a sound-signalling device or a sound-signalling appliance
  2. navigation lights that meet the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset and before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility. The Canadian Coast Guard and PWC manufactures strongly advise against operating at night


BOAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT

  1. one manual propelling device OR an anchor with not less than 15 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  2. one bailer or one manual water pump fitted with or accompanied by sufficient hose to enable a person using the pump to pump water from the bilge of the vessel over the side of the vessel
  3. one Class 5BC fire extinguisher. This equipment is not mandatory if all people on the PWC are wearing Canadian-approved personal flotation device of appropriate size.


Unpowered Pleasure Craft, less than 6M in length

(see separate requirements for sailboards; paddleboats and watercycles;
canoes, kayaks, rowboats and rowing shells)



PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

  1. one Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  2. one buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length


BOAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT

  1. one manual propelling device OR an anchor with not less than 15 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  2. one Class 5BC fire extinguisher, if the pleasure craft is equipped with an inboard engine, a fixed fuel tank of any size, or a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance
  3. one bailer or one manual water pump fitted with or accompanied by sufficient hose to enable a person using the pump to pump water from the bilge of the vessel over the side of the vessel (A bailer or manual water pump is not required for any self-bailing sealed hull sailing vessel fitted with a recess-type cockpit that cannot contain a sufficient quantity of water to make the vessel capsize or a multi-hull vessel that has subdivided multiple-sealed hull construction)


NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

  1. a sound-signalling device or a sound-signalling appliance
  2. navigation lights that meet the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset and before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility
(over 6M in length but not over 8 M in length)
6 M to 8 M Pleasure Craft


PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

  1. one Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  2. one buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length OR one lifebuoy with an outside diameter of 610 mm or 762 mm that is attached to a buoyant line of not less than 15 m in length
  3. a reboarding device if the freeboard of the vessel is greater than 0.5 m


BOAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT

  1. one manual propelling device OR an anchor with not less than 15 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  2. one bailer or one manual water pump fitted with or accompanied by sufficient hose to enable a person using the pump to pump water from the bilge of the vessel over the side of the vessel
  3. one Class 5BC fire extinguisher, if the pleasure craft is a power-driven vessel, plus another class 5BC fire extinguisher if the pleasure craft is equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance


DISTRESS EQUIPMENT

  1. a watertight flashlight
  2. 6 Canadian approved flares of Type A, B or C
  3. exempt from carrying pyrotechnic distress signals if operating in a river, canal or lake in which it can at no time be more than one mile from shore OR engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition and has no sleeping arrangements.


NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

  1. a sound-signalling device or a sound-signalling appliance
  2. navigation lights that meet the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations if the pleasure craft is operated after
  3. sunset and before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility
6 M Powered Pleasure Craft (not over 6 m in length)

(see separate section for personal watercraft)


PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT:
  1. one Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board one buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length


BOAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT:

  1. one manual propelling device OR an anchor with not less than 15 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  2. one Class 5BC fire extinguisher, if the pleasure craft is equipped with an inboard engine, a fixed fuel tank of any size, or a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance
  3. one bailer or one manual water pump fitted with or accompanied by sufficient hose to enable a person using the pump to pump water from the bilge of the vessel over the side of the vessel (A bailer or manual water pump is not required for any multi-hull vessel that has subdivided multiple-sealed hull construction).


DISTRESS EQUIPMENT:

  1. a watertight flashlight OR 3 Canadian approved flares of Type A, B or C


NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT:

  1. a sound-signalling device or a sound-signalling appliance
  2. navigation lights that meet the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset and before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility

over 8M in length but not over 12 M in length
8 M - 12 M Pleasure Craft


PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

  1. one Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  2. one buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length
  3. one lifebuoy with an outside diameter of 610 mm or 762 mm that is attached to a buoyant line of not less than 15 m in length
  4. a reboarding device if the freeboard of the vessel is greater than 0.5 m


BOAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT

  1. an anchor with not less than 30 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  2. one bailer
  3. one manual water pump fitted with or accompanied by sufficient hose to enable a person using the pump to pump water from the bilge of the vessel over the side of the vessel
  4. one Class 10BC fire extinguisher, if the pleasure craft is a power-driven vessel, plus another class 10BC fire extinguisher if the pleasure craft is equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance


DISTRESS EQUIPMENT

  1. a watertight flashlight
  2. 12* Canadian approved flares of Type A, B, C or D, not more than 6 of which are of Type D
  3. exempt from carrying pyrotechnic distress signals if operating in a river, canal or lake in which it can at no time be more than one mile from shore OR engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition and has no sleeping arrangements.


NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

  1. a sound-signalling device or a sound-signalling appliance
  2. navigation lights that meet the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset and before sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility

(over 12M in length but not over 20 M in length -including unpowered craft)
12 M - 20 M Pleasure Craft



PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

  1. one Canadian-approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  2. one buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length
  3. one lifebuoy with an outside diameter of 610 mm or 762 mm that is equipped with a self-igniting light and is attached to a buoyant line of not less than 15 m in length
  4. a reboarding device


BOAT SAFETY EQUIPMENT


  1. an anchor with not less than 50 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  2. bilge-pumping arrangements
  3. one Class 10BC fire extinguisher at each of the following locations:
  4. at each access to any space where a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance is fitted
  5. at the entrance to any accommodation space
  6. at the entrance to the engine room space
  7. 1 axe
  8. 2 buckets, each with a capacity of 10 L or more


DISTRESS EQUIPMENT

  1. a watertight flashlight
  2. 12 Canadian approved flares of Type A, B, C or D, not more than 6 of which are of Type D


NAVIGATION EQUIPMENT

  1. 2 sound-signalling appliances (bell and whistle)
  2. navigation lights that meet the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations
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Copyright 1998, Revised 1999, All rights reserved