What safety equipment is required on a boat in Ontario?

Having the right equipment on board is crucial for safe boating. These safety equipments should be in good working condition, well-maintained, and easily accessible in case of an emergency. The specific safety equipment needed will depend on the type and size of your boat.

Discover the essential Canadian regulations for boating safety gear to ensure lawful and secure navigation in Ontario waters!

Discover the essential of boat safety equipment that each type of boat must carry on board to comply with the Small Vessel Regulations (part of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001):

• Personal Watercraft (PWC)

• Sail and Power Boats up to 6 m (19'8")

• Canoes, kayaks, rowboats and rowing shells

• Sail and Power Boats over 6 m and up to 9 m (19'8''- 29'6'')

• Sail and Power Boats over 9 m and up to 12 m (29'6"- 39'4")

• Sail and Power boats over 12 m and up to 24 m (39'4"- 78'9")

• Sail and Power Boats over 24 m (78'9")

• Paddleboards, paddleboats, watercycles, sealed-hull and sit-on-top kayaks

• Sailboards and Kiteboards

Make sure you have the necessary safety equipment on board, always in excellent working condition, carefully maintained, and easily accessible in case of emergencies.

Personal Watercraft (PWC)

• • approved Personal Flotation Device for each person on board
  • sound-signaling device
  • watertight flashlight  or  three pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than one of which is a smoke signal
  • magnetic compass  (not necessary when in view of navigation markers)
  • Navigation lights (not required in daylight and good visibility) If one person on board a personal watercraft is not wearing a lifejacket or a PFD of an appropriate size, you must add the following equipment:

• • buoyant heaving line at least 15m (49’3”) long
  • reboarding device (only required if reboarding means climbing a vertical height of more than 0.5 m (1’8”) from the water).
  • manual propelling device or an anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  • bailer or manual bilge pump or bilge-pumping equipment 
  • radar reflector (not necessary for typical daytime and near-shore activities).
  • fire extinguisher (5 BC)

 

Powerboats and Sailboats up to 6 m (19'8")

• • personal Flotation Device (PFD) or Lifejacket for each person on board
  • Buoyant heaving line at least than 15 m (49’3”) long
  • reboarding device (only required if reboarding means climbing a vertical height of more than 0.5 m (1’8”) from the water).

If the boat is equipped with a motor, add the following equipments:

Powerboats and Sailboats over 6 m and up to 9 m (19'8''- 29'6'')

• • Personal Flotation Device or Lifejacket
  • of appropriate size for each person on board
  • buoyant heaving line at least than 15 m (49’3”) long or lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m (49’3”) long
  • reboarding device Note: A reboarding device is only required if the vertical height that must be climbed to reboard the pleasure craft from the water is over 0.5 m (1’8”).
  • watertight flashlight
  • Six pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than two of which are smoke signals or At least three pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than one of which is a smoke signal, if there is also a means of two way electronic communications on board (i.e., cell phones, satellite phones, VHF, 406 MHz personal locater beacons, or EPIRB) Note: Flares are not required for a pleasure craft that: Is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile (1.852 km) from shore; or Has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition.
  • manual propelling device or One anchor and at least 15 m (49’3”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  • bailer or one manual bilge pump Note: A bailer or manual water pump is not required for a pleasure craft that cannot hold enough water to make it capsize or a pleasure craft that has watertight compartments that are sealed and not readily accessible.
  • sound-signalling device or appliance
  • navigation lights that meets the requirements set out in the Collision Regulations. Navigation lights are only required if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset, before sunrise, or in periods of restricted visibility (fog, falling snow, etc.). Sailing vessels less than 7 m in length can meet this requirement with a watertight flashlight 
  • magnetic compass  A magnetic compass is not required if the pleasure craft is 8 m (26’3”) or less and is operated within sight of sea marks (navigation marks).
  • fire extinguisher (5BC) if the pleasure craft is equipped with a motor
  • 5BC fire extinguisher if the pleasure craft is equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigeration appliance
  • radar reflector  is required under certain conditions

 

Powerboats and Sailboats over 9 m and up to 12 m (29'6"- 39'4") Boating Safety Equipment

• • Personal Flotation Device (PFD) or Lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  • buoyant heaving line at least than 15 m (49’3”) long
  • lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m (49’3”) long
  • reboarding device Note: A reboarding device is only required if the vertical height that must be climbed to reboard the pleasure craft from the water is over 0.5 m (1’8”). 
  • watertight flashlight
  • twelve pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than six of which are smoke signals or at least six pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than three of which are smoke signals, if there is also a means of two way electronic communications on board (i.e., cell phones, satellite phones, VHF, 406 MHz personal locater beacons, or EPIRB). Note: Flares are not required for a pleasure craft that: Is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile (1.852 km) from shore; or Has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition.
  • anchor and at least 30 m (98’5”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  • manual bilge pump or bilge-pumping arrangements Note: A bailer or manual bilge pump is not required for a pleasure craft that cannot hold enough water to make it capsize or a pleasure craft that has watertight compartments that are sealed and not readily accessible.
  • sound-signalling appliance or a sound-signalling device 
  • navigation lights
  • magnetic compass
  • 10BC fire extinguisher if the pleasure craft is equipped with motor and one 10BC fire extinguisher if the pleasure craft is equipped with a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigeration appliance 
  • radar reflector is required under certain conditions.

 

Powerboats and Sailboats over 12 m and up to 24 m (39'4"- 78'9") Boating Safety Equipment

• • personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board
  • buoyant heaving line at least than 15 m (49’3”) long
  • lifebuoy equipped with a self-igniting light or attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m (49’3”) long
  • reboarding device Note: A reboarding device is only required if the vertical height that must be climbed to reboard the pleasure craft from the water is over 0.5 m (1’8”). 
  • watertight flashlight
  • Twelve pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than six of which are smoke signals. or at least six pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than three of which are smoke signals, if there is also a means of two way electronic communications on board (i.e., cell phones, satellite phones, VHF, 406 MHz personal locater beacons, or EPIRB). Note: Flares are not required for a pleasure craft that: Is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile (1.852 km) from shore; or Has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition.
  • anchor and at least 50 m (164’1”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  • bilge-pumping arrangements
  • sound-signalling appliances Note: Pleasure craft over 20 m (65’7”) in length require a whistle (horn), and a fitted bell.
  • navigation lights
  • magnetic compass  
  • 10BC fire extinguisher at all of the following locations: at each access to any space where a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance is fitted; at the entrance to any accommodation space; and at the entrance to the machinery space.
  • axe
  • 2 buckets Note: Transport Canada recommends that each bucket have a capacity of at least 10 litres.
  • radar reflector is required under certain conditions.

 

Powerboats and Sailboats over 24 m (78'9") Boating Safety Equipment

• • personal flotation device or lifejacket for each person on board
  • buoyant heaving line at least than 30 m (98’5”) long
  • 2 SOLAS lifebuoy, of which: one is attached to a buoyant line at least 30 m (98 ’5”) long; and one is equipped with a self-igniting light
  • lifting harness with appropriate rigging
  • reboarding device Note: A reboarding device is only required if the vertical height that must be climbed to reboard the pleasure craft from the water is over 0.5 m (1’8”).
  • watertight flashlight
  • 12 pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than six of which are smoke signals or at least six pyrotechnic distress signals, not more than three of which are smoke signals, if there is also a means of two way electronic communications on board (i.e., cell phones, satellite phones, VHF, 406 MHz personal locater beacons, or EPIRB). Note: flares are not required for a pleasure craft that: Is operating on a river, canal or lake in which it can never be more than one (1) nautical mile (1.852 km) from shore; or has no sleeping quarters and is engaged in an official competition or in final preparation for an official competition.
  • anchor and at least 50 m (164’1”) of cable, rope or chain in any combination
  • Bilge-pumping arrangements
  • sound-signalling appliances Note: Pleasure craft over 20 m (65’7”) in length require a whistle (horn), and a fitted bell.
  • navigation lights
  • magnetic compass 
  • 10BC fire extinguisher at all of the following locations: at each access to any space where a fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigerating appliance is fitted; at the entrance to any accommodation space; and at the entrance to the machinery space.
  • power-driven fire pump located outside the machinery space, with one fire hose and nozzle that can direct water into any part of the boat
  • 2 axes
  • 4 buckets Note: Transport Canada recommends that each bucket have a capacity of at least 10 litres.
  • radar reflector is required under certain conditions

 

Canoes, Kayaks, Rowboats and Rowing shells Boating Safety Equipment

Paddleboards, paddleboats, watercycles, Sealed-hull and sit-on-top kayaks Boating Safety Equipment

Sailboards and Kiteboards Boating Safety Equipment

These rules apply to: Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Northwest Territories.