Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Rhode Island Required Equipment Checklist

indicates the equipment is required by state law.

Required Equipment	PWC	Boat Less than 16'	Boat 16' to Less than 26'
Boater Education Certificate On Board	1	1	1
1) Boating Education Certificate: Required for all PWC operators and for those born on or after January 1, 1986, operating a vessel powered by a motor of more than 10 horsepower.
Certificate of Number On Board
Validation Decals Displayed
"No Discharge" Certificate Decal Displayed	n/a	2	2
2) All vessels with a permanently installed marine toilet must be inspected and display a decal.
PFDs: Type I, II, III, or V (one per person)	3	4	4
3) Those on PWCs must wear a PFD (life jacket) at all times. 4) Children under 13 years of age must wear a U.S. Coast Guard–approved PFD while underway in a recreational vessel less than 65 feet in length unless below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
PFD: Type IV	n/a	n/a
Type B-1 Fire Extinguisher
Ignition Safety Switch		n/a	n/a
Backfire Flame Arrestor		Required on inboard and stern drives only.	Required on inboard and stern drives only.
Ventilation System
Muffler
Horn or Whistle
Daytime Visual Distress Signals	n/a	n/a
Nighttime Visual Distress Signals	Not applicable since PWCs may not operate at night.
Navigation Lights	Not applicable since PWCs may not operate at night.