Canadian Boat Safety Equipment List Boat Safety Kit

Approved lifebuoy

When buying a lifebuoy, look for a Transport Canada approval stamp or label. Lifebuoys must be at least 610 mm (24”) in diameter. SOLAS lifebuoys are 762 mm (30”) in diameter. Smaller lifebuoys and horseshoe-type devices are not approved. The lifebuoy must be attached to a buoyant line of not less than 15 m in length which must be securely fixed, and in good condition. Make sure that the grab lines on the lifebuoy are also secure and in good condition. Also, it must not show any tearing, perforation, or mold. It must be quickly accessible in an emergency and is required only on vessels over 9m.

Anchor

Having the right anchor and cable for your boat is important. If you don’t, rough winds and water can cause it to drag, leaving your boat to drift. This is especially dangerous if you are asleep or swimming nearby. Make sure that your boat is well anchored and that the swivel is properly locked, and keep watch to detect signs of dragging. The first step in anchoring is to select the proper anchor. In spite of claims to the contrary, there is no single anchor design that is best in all conditions.

Radar reflector

Radar reflectors are required for boats under 20m (65’7”) and boats that are built of mostly non-metallic materials.

There are some exceptions where a radar reflector is not required.

If you are operating your vessel in limited traffic conditions, daylight hours and in favorable environmental conditions, a radar reflector is not needed because it isn’t essential to the boat’s safety.
The small size of your boat and/or its operation away from radar navigation and large shipping lanes might make having a radar reflector impracticable and, therefore, is not needed.

The main purpose of the bucket is to put out type A fires. Type B extinguishers are required on boats that have an in-board engine (inside), but cannot put out type A fires which are solid combustible (wood, textiles). A bucket full of water will help to put out these fires. The only requirement is that the buckets have a capacity of at least 10 litres. The ones made of metal with a round bottom and a hole in the centre, painted in red, are not required on small vessels. However, it is recommended that the buckets are fitted with a lanyard of sufficient length to reach the water from the place where it is stored.

Navigation lights

Just like for vehicles on our roadways, there are rules that apply to the lights that must be displayed by boats.

These lights provide critical information to the operators of other vessels when they see you. Depending on the lights required to be displayed on your boat based on its length and type of propulsion, the information that these lights provide to others can tell them whether you are at anchor or underway or engaged in some other activity, whether you are a power-driven vessel or not, what your heading is, etc. Other vessels around you make collision avoidance decisions based on the information available to them, that's why it is so important that the information your navigation lights are giving them is the correct information.

If you are caught by the police not showing lights or showing improper lights, you will likely be fined. Worse yet, if the information your navigation lights are providing is incorrect and an accident occurs as a result of this, there could be serious repercussions.

Navigation lights must be displayed:

At night (between sunset and sunrise)
When periods of restricted (poor) visibility (fog or heavy rain)

GPS or Global Positioning System

While more and more boat operators rely on marine GPS to tell them where they are on the water, it is a good idea to keep charts on board in case the GPS fails. With the aid of the nautical chart, whether integrated to the GPS or not, the boater can find his/her position on the map, and thus, on the body of water. If charts are integrated into the GPS, it is important to have backups available on paper in case of a GPS malfunction. It is highly recommended that you use fully charged batteries to allow peak performance of the GPS. Be careful to not drop it in the water, as most GPS’s are not waterproof.

Notices to mariners

A Notice to Mariners publication informs mariners of important navigational safety matters affecting Canadian Waters.

Notices to Mariners are continuous means employed by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), to promulgate information required by the master, pilot or person in charge of the navigation of a vessel, as well as other interested parties. The Notices to Mariners contain the necessary information to ensure that nautical charts, Sailing Directions, List of Lights, Annual Edition of Notices to Mariners and Radio Aids to Marine Navigation publications are kept up-to-date. Mariners are also informed of the enactment of regulations and the establishment of procedures governing vessel entry into and transit in Canadian waters.