It's the Law: Required Equipment
Fire Extinguishers
- All vessels are required to have a Type B U.S. Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher(s)
on board if one or more of the following conditions exist:
- Inboard or inboard/outboard engines
- Closed compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks
may be stored
- Permanently installed fuel tanks
- Closed or semi-closed living spaces
- Devices on board that consume petroleum products (e.g.,
stoves, lanterns)
- Approved types of fire extinguishers
are identified by the following marking
on the label—“Marine Type USCG
Approved”—followed by the type and
size symbols and the approval number.
- Extinguishers should be placed in an accessible area—not near
the engine or in a compartment, but where they can be reached
immediately. Be sure you know how to operate them, and inspect
extinguishers regularly to ensure they are in working condition
and fully charged.
Use this chart to determine the type and quantity required
for your vessel:
| Fire Extinguisher Requirements |
Classification
(type & size) |
Foam
(minimum gallons) |
Carbon Dioxide (minimum pounds) |
Dry Chemical
(minimum pounds) |
| B-I
| 1 ¼ |
4
| 2
|
| B-II
| 2 ½
| 15
| 10
|
| Length Class |
Without a Fixed System |
With a Fixed System* |
| Less than 26 ft.
| one B-I |
None |
| 26 ft. to less than 40
ft. |
two B-I or one
B-II |
one B-I |
| 40 ft. to less than 65
ft. |
three B-I or one
B-II and one B-I |
two B-I or one
B-II |
| * Refers to a permanently installed
fire extinguisher system |
Fire Extinguisher Charge Indicators
Check the charge level of your fire extinguishers regularly.
Replace them immediately if they are not fully charged.
To check this style of extinguisher,
depress the green button. If it is fully charged, the
green button should pop back out immediately. |
 |
On this style of fired extinguisher,
the needle indicator should be in the "full" range. |
 |
