Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Fire Extinguishers

Extinguishers are classified by a letter and number symbol. The number indicates the relative size of the extinguisher, and the letter indicates the type of fire it will extinguish.

Type A fires are of combustible solids like wood.
Type B fires are of flammable liquids like gasoline or oil.
Type C fires are electrical fires.

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.

Use this chart to determine the type and quantity required for your vessel:

Length of Vessel	Without Fixed System	With Fixed System*
Less than 16 ft. **	one B-I	None
16 ft. to 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 (built-in) fire extinguisher system. ** Required only if one or more of the following conditions exist: inboard engine, closed compartments where portable fuel tanks may be stored, double-bottom construction not sealed to the hull or not completely filled with flotation material, closed living spaces, closed storage compartments in which flammable or combustible materials may be stored, permanently installed fuel tanks.

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.

Fire extinguishers must be maintained in usable condition. Inspect extinguishers regularly to ensure the following.

Seals and tamper indicators are not broken or missing.
Pressure gauges or indicators read in the operable range.
There is no physical damage, corrosion, leakage, or clogged nozzles.

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.

Backfire Flame Arrestors

Because boat engines may backfire, all powerboats (except outboards) that are fueled with gasoline must have an approved backfire flame arrestor on each carburetor. Backfire flame arrestors are designed to prevent the ignition of gasoline vapors in case the engine backfires.

Backfire flame arrestors must be:

In good and serviceable condition
U.S. Coast Guard–approved (must comply with SAE J-1928 or UL 1111 standards)

Periodically clean the flame arrestor(s) and check for any damage.

Ventilation Systems

The importance of ventilation is crucial. The purpose of ventilation systems is to avoid explosions by removing flammable gases. Properly installed ventilation systems greatly reduce the chance of a life-threatening explosion.

All gasoline-powered vessels, constructed in a way that would entrap fumes, must have at least two ventilation ducts fitted with cowls to remove the fumes. At least one exhaust duct must extend from the open atmosphere to the lower bilge. At least one intake duct must extend from a point at least midway to the bilge or below the level of the carburetor air intake.
If your vessel is equipped with a power ventilation system, turn it on for at least four minutes after fueling and before starting your engine.
If your vessel is not equipped with a power ventilation system (for example, a personal watercraft), open the engine compartment and sniff for gasoline fumes before starting the engine.

Vessels built after July 31, 1980, which contain power exhaust blowers in gasoline engine compartments, must have the above warning sticker placed near the instrument panel.

Powerboats are built to ventilate the engine when underway. As the boat moves along, an air intake scoops up fresh air and forces it down the air duct into the engine compartment. The exhaust sucks out the explosive fumes from the lowest part of the engine and fuel compartments.

Mufflers

The exhaust of every internal combustion engine of any vessel operated on Kansas waters must be equipped with a muffler system that effectively muffles the noise of the exhaust. The muffler system may be an exhaust water manifold or a factory-type muffler installed on the engine.

The muffler system must be in good working order, in constant operation, and installed in such a way that it prevents any excessive or unusual noise.

Excessive noise is illegal. Specifically, it is illegal to:

Remove, alter, or modify a muffler system.
Operate or give permission to operate any vessel if it is equipped with an altered muffler, a muffler cutout, a muffler bypass, or any other device that increases noise.
Exceed a sound level of 86 decibels on the ‘‘A’’ weighted scale, when measured from a distance of 50 feet or more from the vessel’s engine.

Ship to Shore Power Electrocution

A hazard can be created when AC current leaks out of the AC system, reaching any grounded item on the vessel that is in contact with the water around the vessel. If the vessel does not have a green grounding wire properly connected to the vessel engine, the leaked current will seek an earth ground through the water in all directions around the vessel. Because the AC current spreads out on the water, anyone swimming in the field that is created will be subject to electrical shock.

You need to consider where the AC electricity comes from. Equipment that may be connected to both the AC and DC systems includes:

Battery chargers
Lighting fixtures that operate both 120 VAC and low voltage DC
AC/DC refrigerators

A simple test should be conducted at the start of the boating season using an AC voltmeter. Connect one of the probes to a good ground on the dock and the other to the engine or outdrive. With the meter connected the AC system should be energized, and while someone is observing the AC voltmeter, each AC circuit should be turned on so the equipment operates. If any AC voltage is picked up on the engine, there is a problem that must be checked out.

Simple AC systems, as used in most marinas, should have a polarity device that warns the vessel operator when the polarity is reversed. As a preventive safety measure, ask the marina to assist you in testing any shore power facility they provide.

Vessel Safety Checks

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons will perform a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) of your vessel and equipment free of charge. This inspection covers federal and state requirements. If your vessel meets all VSC requirements, you will receive a VSC decal. If your vessel fails to meet all requirements, no report is made to any law enforcement agency.