Safety equipment requirements
Recreational vessels must carry certain safety equipment.
Safety equipment table - to be carried on board
Printable checklists:
| Symbol | Item | Enclosed waters Quantity |
Open waters Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Lifejacket Level 100 or greater | 1 per person* | |
|
Lifejacket Level 50S or greater. | 1 per person* | |
 |
Anchor and chain/line (to suit vessel size/weight and sea floor) | 1 | 1 |
 |
Bailer/bucket/fire bucket with lanyard. | 1 | 1 |
 |
Bilge pump - Manual or power operated (vessel with covered bilge(s) or closed under-floor compartments other than airtight void spaces and must be capable of draining each compartment). | 1** | 1** |
 |
Compass (fluid filled magnetic) | 1 | |
 |
Distress flare (orange smoke hand-held, in date) | 2 | |
 |
Distress flare (red hand-held, in date) | 2 | |
 |
Fire extinguisher (vessels with electric start, electric motors, battery, gas or fuel stoves) | 1** | 1** |
 |
Map/chart for area of operation (paper or electronic) | 1 | |
 |
Paddles or oars and rowlocks (in vessels under 6 m unless a second means of propulsion is fitted) | 1 | 1 |
 |
Safety label (appropriate to vessel type) | 1 | 1 |
 |
Sound signal (air horn/whistle/bell) | 1 | 1 |
 |
V sheet (dimensions 1.8 x 1.2 m minimum) | 1 | |
 |
Water (suitable for drinking) | 2L per person | |
 |
Waterproof torch (floating and operational) | 1 | 1 |
 |
EPIRB – 406 MHz (required if 2 nautical miles or more offshore). Must be in date (according to the manufacturers expiry date) and properly registered with AMSA. | 1 | |
 |
Marine radio (required if 2 nautical miles or more offshore) | 1 |
* Lifejackets must be suitable for the intended wearer, in good condition and serviced at least every 12 months (or at longer intervals in accordance with manufacturer's instructions).
** Additional bilge pumps and fire extinguishers may be required for larger vessels.
# The exception is when using PWC, canoes and kayaks, off-the-beach sailing vessels, sailboards and kiteboards.
Modified safety equipment requirements
| Vessel type | Requirements |
|---|---|
| Canoes/kayaks | Exempt from carrying safety equipment on all waters, but hand-held marine radio or mobile phone in waterproof pouch strongly recommended. |
| Sailboards Kiteboards Racing shells, surf rescue boats, surfboats and surf skis |
Exempt from carrying safety equipment on all waters. |
| Rowboats, dinghies, small unpowered inflatable boats | Exempt from carrying safety equipment on enclosed waters if the vessel is all of the following:
|
| Tenders (if operating in enclosed waters, less than 3m in length and operating within 200 m of the shore) | Exempt from carrying other safety equipment if the vessel carries a paddle or oars, a waterproof torch if operating between sunset and sunrise, a bucket/bailer or bilge pump. |
| Sailing vessels |
|
| Off the beach vessels (means an unballasted, sail-only vessel, including centreboard dinghy, windsurfer, skiff or multihull vessel, but not including a vessel with a cabin or a fixed keel) | Not required to carry safety equipment if the vessel does not have sufficient storage room. |
| Dragon boats/Outrigger canoes | For more information on safety equipment requirements please refer to Schedule 8, Part 2 of Marine Safety Regulation 2016. |
| PWC | Exempt from carrying safety equipment. Also exempt from carrying a safety label, but must have a PWC behaviour label. For tow-in surfing the PWC must be equipped with:
|