It's the Law: Required Equipment

Fire Extinguishers

All vessels are required to have a Type B fire extinguisher(s) on board if one or more of the following conditions exist.

Length of the vessel is 26 feet or more
Vessel has closed compartments
Vessel is powered by an inboard or stern drive engine
Vessel is carrying passengers for hire

Approved types of fire extinguishers are labeled—"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. Check all extinguishers regularly to make sure they are 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
Vessel Length		Without Fixed System	With 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 fire extinguisher, the needle indicator should be in the "full" range.

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Online boating safety handbook last modified: July 15, 2008
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