Top 10 Sailing Safety Tips

Sailing rewards preparation more than most sports: the weather can turn in an hour, help can be a long way off, and a small failure aboard can grow fast. Whether you're new to it or have sailed for years, these are the habits that keep a day on the water a good one.

Top 10 Sailing Safety Tips

Check the marine forecast before you go, and keep checking. Watch for building wind, squalls, fog and changing sea state, and know your plan if conditions turn.
Wear a properly fitted lifejacket or PFD. Have one for every person aboard and wear it, especially in rough conditions, at night, or alone on deck.
File a float plan. Leave your route, crew and return time with someone ashore, and check in when you're back. Scan Your Plan alerts your contact if you don't.
Navigate with more than one tool. Carry charts and a compass as well as GPS, and know the collision rules so you can read other vessels' intentions.
Carry the required safety equipment and keep it working. The Transport Canada and U.S. Coast Guard minimums are listed below. Add a VHF radio with DSC, and check flare expiry dates.
Stay sober. Impaired operation of any boat is a criminal offence in Canada and a federal and state offence in the U.S., and wind, sun and motion make alcohol hit harder.
Look after the rig and sails. Inspect standing and running rigging, winches and sails, and reef early: if you're wondering whether to reef, it's time.
Practise man-overboard drills. Point at the person in the water, throw flotation, hit the MOB button on the GPS, and get back under control. Practise until the whole crew knows it.
Stay aboard. Clip a harness and tether to jacklines in rough weather, at night and when alone on deck, and keep one hand for the boat.
Know your boat and your limits. Learn its systems before you need them, take a sailing course, and don't push past your experience or your crew's.

Required Safety Equipment: Canada and the USA

The rules that apply depend on where you're boating, not where your boat is from: Transport Canada's in Canadian waters, and the U.S. Coast Guard's (plus your state's) in U.S. waters. Open a card for the full list, or compare the two countries side by side below.

Canada Transport Canada Required Safety Equipment

These are the minimums the Small Vessel Regulations set for sail-powered and power-driven pleasure craft in Canada. A sailboat with a motor must meet both. Equipment must be in good working order, easy to reach and maintained to the maker's instructions, and lifejackets and PFDs must be Canadian-approved and the right size.

Up to 6 m (19'8")

A lifejacket or PFD of the right size for each person aboard
A buoyant heaving line at least 15 m long
A reboarding device, if the climb from the water onto the boat is more than 0.5 m
A watertight flashlight or three Canadian-approved flares (Type A, B or C)
A manual propelling device (paddle or oars) or an anchor with at least 15 m of rope, cable or chain
A bailer or manual bilge pump
A sound-signalling device (whistle or horn)
Navigation lights, if you're out between sunset and sunrise or in reduced visibility
A magnetic compass (not required on boats 8 m or less that stay within sight of navigation marks)
A 5B:C fire extinguisher, if the boat has an inboard engine, a fixed fuel tank, or a fuel-burning stove, heater or fridge

Over 6 m up to 9 m (19'8" to 29'6")

A lifejacket or PFD for each person
A buoyant heaving line at least 15 m long, or a lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m long
A reboarding device (as above)
A watertight flashlight and six Canadian-approved flares, no more than two of them smoke signals
A manual propelling device or an anchor with at least 15 m of rope, cable or chain
A bailer or manual bilge pump
A sound-signalling device, navigation lights and a magnetic compass (same conditions as above)
A 5B:C fire extinguisher if the boat has a motor, and another if it has a fuel-burning stove, heater or fridge

Over 9 m up to 12 m (29'6" to 39'4")

A lifejacket or PFD for each person
A buoyant heaving line at least 15 m long and a lifebuoy attached to a buoyant line at least 15 m long
A reboarding device (as above)
A watertight flashlight and twelve Canadian-approved flares, no more than six of them smoke signals
An anchor with at least 30 m of rope, cable or chain
A manual bilge pump or bilge-pumping arrangements
A sound-signalling device, navigation lights and a magnetic compass
A 10B:C fire extinguisher if the boat has a motor, and another if it has a fuel-burning stove, heater or fridge

Over 12 m (39'4")

Larger boats carry more: a lifebuoy with a self-igniting light or a 15 m buoyant line, an anchor with at least 50 m of rode, bilge-pumping arrangements, 10B:C extinguishers at each fuel-burning appliance, accommodation and engine space, an axe and two buckets. Boats 12 m and over also need a whistle that meets the Collision Regulations. Check the full list in Transport Canada's Safe Boating Guide (TP 511).

Flare exceptions

Flares aren't required on a river, canal or lake where you can never be more than one nautical mile from shore.
On boats over 6 m, you may carry as few as half the required flares if you have a two-way radio, a 406 MHz EPIRB, or a 406 MHz personal locator beacon worn by the operator.
Canadian flares expire four years after the manufacture date stamped on them. Replace them, and dispose of old ones through a retailer or local program, not in the garbage.

Other Canadian requirements

Proof of competency (Pleasure Craft Operator Card). Required to operate any pleasure craft fitted with a motor, and that includes a sailboat with an auxiliary engine, even while you're under sail. Carry the physical card.
Pleasure Craft Licence. Required if the boat has motors totalling 10 hp (7.5 kW) or more, unless it's registered. Display the licence number and carry a copy.
Marine VHF radio. You need a Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime), the ROC(M), to operate one. A DSC radio needs an MMSI number before its distress button will identify your boat.
Radar reflector. Boats under 20 m, or built mostly of non-metallic materials such as fibreglass or wood, must carry one where practicable. It isn't needed in daylight, light traffic and good conditions, or where the boat's small size makes it impracticable. Mount it at least 4 m above the water if you can.
Children's lifejackets. Inflatable lifejackets and PFDs aren't approved for anyone under 16 or weighing less than 36.3 kg (80 lb), so children need an inherently buoyant one, sized for their weight.
Sober operation. Impaired operation of a vessel carries the same Criminal Code penalties as impaired driving.
In U.S. waters, U.S. Coast Guard rules apply.

This is a summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. The Small Vessel Regulations and Transport Canada's Safe Boating Guide are the official sources.

USA U.S. Coast Guard Required Safety Equipment

These are the federal minimums for recreational boats from the U.S. Coast Guard's Boater's Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats. Equipment must be Coast Guard-approved, in good condition and readily accessible. Your state can add its own rules, so check with your state boating agency too.

Every boat

A wearable, Coast Guard-approved life jacket of the right size for each person aboard, where you can put it on quickly, not stowed in plastic bags or locked away. Inflatables must have a full cylinder and green status indicators.
Children under 13 must wear a life jacket while the boat is underway, unless they're below deck or in an enclosed cabin. If your state has its own child wear rule, the state rule applies.
A sound-producing device, such as a whistle or horn
Navigation lights between sunset and sunrise and in restricted visibility, such as fog or heavy rain
State registration for any boat with an engine: carry the Certificate of Number aboard and display the number on the hull
Engine cut-off switch: on boats under 26 ft that have one installed, the operator must wear the link whenever the boat is on plane or above displacement speed

Boats 16 ft (4.9 m) and over

One throwable flotation device (Type IV), within arm's reach on deck. Canoes and kayaks are exempt.
Day and night visual distress signals on the waters listed below

Visual distress signals

Where: U.S. coastal waters, the Great Lakes, territorial seas, and waters connected to them until they narrow to less than 2 nautical miles wide.
Boats 16 ft and over: signals for both day and night use. For example, three hand-held red flares approved for day and night, or an orange distress flag for day plus an electric SOS distress light for night.
Night signals only, when out between sunset and sunrise: boats under 16 ft, boats in organized events such as races and regattas, open sailboats under 26 ft with no engine, and paddled or rowed boats.
Pyrotechnic flares expire 42 months after manufacture. Expired flares can be carried as extras, but they don't count toward the requirement.

Fire extinguishers

Required if the boat has closed compartments (including under seats where portable fuel tanks may be stored), closed living spaces, closed stowage for flammable materials, double bottoms not sealed or filled with flotation, or permanently installed fuel tanks. For boats from model year 2018 on, the minimum number of 5-B extinguishers is:

Under 26 ft: one (none if a fixed system protects the engine space)
26 ft to under 40 ft: two (one with a fixed system)
40 ft to 65 ft: three (two with a fixed system)

One 20-B extinguisher can replace two 5-B extinguishers. Disposable extinguishers expire 12 years after the date stamped on the bottom. Boats from model year 2017 or earlier may keep B-I and B-II extinguishers until they're no longer serviceable.

Gasoline engines

Ventilation: enclosed compartments with a gasoline engine or fuel tank need ventilation, and an inboard gasoline engine with remote starting needs a powered blower. Run it for at least four minutes before you start the engine.
Backfire flame arrestor: required on inboard gasoline engines (not outboards).

Larger boats

26 ft and over: an oil discharge placard (at least 5 × 8 in.) in the engine space or at the bilge pump controls, and a garbage placard (at least 4 × 9 in.) where crew and guests can see it.
12 m (39.4 ft) and over: a whistle that meets the Navigation Rules, and a copy of the Navigation Rules aboard on inland waters.
20 m (65.6 ft) and over: a whistle and a bell.
40 ft and over, ocean-going, with a galley and berths: a written waste management plan.

Other U.S. requirements

Toilets: an installed toilet needs a Coast Guard-certified marine sanitation device. Treated sewage can be discharged within 3 nautical miles of shore except in No Discharge Zones; untreated sewage only beyond 3 nautical miles.
Pollution: never discharge oil, plastic or garbage into U.S. waters. Report oil spills to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
Boater education: there's no federal operator licence, but most states require a boater education card for some or all operators, often based on age.
VHF radio: most recreational boaters don't need an individual licence to use a VHF in U.S. waters, but must follow FCC rules. Register any EPIRB or PLB with NOAA.
Boating under the influence: a blood alcohol content of 0.08 (0.10 in some states) or more is a federal and state offence.
Free Vessel Safety Check: the Coast Guard Auxiliary and America's Boating Club will check your boat's required equipment at no cost.
In Canadian waters, Transport Canada rules apply.

This is a summary of the federal minimums to help you prepare, not legal advice. The official source is the U.S. Coast Guard's Boating Safety Division; your state may require more.

USA and Canada Side by Side

Item	USA (U.S. Coast Guard)	Canada (Transport Canada)
Who sets the rules	U.S. Coast Guard federal minimums, plus your state's rules	Transport Canada's Small Vessel Regulations, across the country
Life jackets	One Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket per person, right size	One Canadian-approved lifejacket or PFD per person, right size
Children	Under 13 must wear one while underway, unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin	No general wear rule, but inflatables aren't approved under 16 or under 36.3 kg (80 lb)
Throwable or heaving line	A throwable device on boats 16 ft and over (not canoes or kayaks)	A 15 m buoyant heaving line on every boat (or a lifebuoy from 6 m); both over 9 m
Distress signals	On coastal waters and the Great Lakes: day and night signals from 16 ft, night only under 16 ft. Flares expire after 42 months; a distress flag and electric SOS light can replace them	Flashlight or 3 flares up to 6 m; flashlight and 6 flares to 9 m; flashlight and 12 flares to 12 m. None needed within 1 nm of shore on rivers and lakes. Flares expire after 4 years
Fire extinguishers	With enclosed spaces or a fixed fuel tank: one 5-B under 26 ft, two at 26 to 40 ft, three at 40 to 65 ft. Disposables expire after 12 years	5B:C with an inboard engine, fixed tank or fuel-burning appliance (to 6 m); 5B:C with a motor (to 9 m) or 10B:C (to 12 m), plus one per fuel-burning appliance
Sound signal	Whistle or horn; a Navigation Rules whistle from 12 m, plus a bell from 20 m	Whistle or horn; a Collision Regulations whistle from 12 m
Navigation lights	Sunset to sunrise and in restricted visibility	Sunset to sunrise and in reduced visibility
Bailer or bilge pump	Not federally required	Required on every boat
Paddle or anchor	Not regulated	Paddle or anchor with 15 m of rode to 9 m; anchor with 30 m of rode to 12 m
Reboarding device	Not required	Required if the climb back aboard is more than 0.5 m
Compass	Not required	Required, except boats 8 m or less within sight of navigation marks
Radar reflector	Not required	Where practicable on boats under 20 m or built mostly of non-metallic materials
Engine cut-off switch	Under 26 ft: wear the link when on plane, if one is installed	Must be installed on personal watercraft; a U.S.-style rule has been proposed for other boats. Wear it anyway
Gasoline engine ventilation	Ventilation for enclosed gasoline compartments, a blower for inboards with remote start, and a backfire flame arrestor on inboards	Covered by the construction standards boats are built to; run the blower before you start
Boat registration	State registration (Certificate of Number) for any boat with an engine	Pleasure Craft Licence for 10 hp (7.5 kW) or more, unless registered
Operator card	No federal card; most states require boater education for some or all operators	Pleasure Craft Operator Card for any motorized pleasure craft
VHF radio licence	Not needed for most recreational boaters in U.S. waters	Restricted Operator Certificate (Maritime), ROC(M), for every operator
Alcohol	Boating under the influence at 0.08 BAC (0.10 in some states): federal and state penalties	Impaired operation carries the same Criminal Code penalties as impaired driving
Toilets and sewage	Certified marine sanitation device; No Discharge Zones; untreated sewage only beyond 3 nm	Holding tank or approved device; discharge is tightly restricted and banned in designated sewage areas

Some newer life jackets are labelled "approved use in U.S. and Canada," so they count in both countries. Check your labels before you cross the border.

Spares to Carry Aboard

Match these to your own boat, and keep a list of what's aboard and where it's stowed.

Engine

Raw-water pump impeller and gasket, and the tool to change it
Fuel filters (primary and secondary) and a way to bleed the fuel system
Alternator and water-pump belts
Engine oil, coolant and transmission fluid
Hose clamps in several sizes, and a length of each hose size aboard
A spare outboard propeller and shear pin or cotter pin, if you have one

Rig, sails and deck

Shackles, clevis pins, cotter pins and split rings in the sizes your rig uses
A spare halyard or a length of line long enough to replace your longest sheet
Sail-repair tape, a sail-repair kit with needles and palm, and whipping twine
Rigging tape, and a spare snap shackle or two
Bungee cord and sail ties

Hull, plumbing and electrical

A softwood tapered plug for every through-hull, tied beside its fitting
A bilge-pump rebuild kit or a spare pump, and a spare bilge-pump float switch
Fuses of every size aboard, spare bulbs or LED units for navigation lights, and electrical tape
Crimp terminals, heat-shrink, a little marine-grade wire and a multimeter
Head repair kit and spare joker valve
Underwater epoxy and a roll of rescue or self-fusing tape

Tools and emergency gear

A basic marine tool kit, a rigging knife and bolt cutters or a hacksaw able to cut your standing rigging
A handheld VHF and spare batteries, a headlamp and a backup flashlight
A first aid kit, seasickness remedies, sunscreen and drinking water
Warm layers and foul-weather gear for every crew member

Before You Cast Off

Weather: forecast checked, and a plan if it turns.
Float plan: filed, with your return time.
Rig: shrouds and stays tight, cotter pins and rings taped, halyards clear, reef lines rigged.
Hull: bilge dry, through-hulls in the right position, hatches closed before sailing.
Engine: oil and coolant checked, raw water flowing from the exhaust once started, fuel for the trip and a reserve.
Electronics: navigation lights working, VHF radio check, batteries charged.
Crew briefing: where the lifejackets, flares, fire extinguishers and first aid kit are, how to use the VHF, and what to do if someone goes overboard.
Lifejackets: on, and fitted.

Navigating? See Marine Navigation & Compass: compasses aboard, variation and deviation, charts, fixes, dead reckoning, buoys, and how to use a sextant.

Upgrading your boat? See Sailboat Upgrades to Consider, including the Big 7 marine electrical upgrades and winterizing.

See also: Boating Safety Kit, Life Jackets & PFD, Top 10 Boating Safety Tips, Marine First Aid, and CrewFinder to find crew or a boat to crew on.