Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Other Equipment Requirements

Bailing Device

All vessels, not of self-bailing design, must have onboard a bail bucket or mechanical means for pumping the bilge. Sailboards and PWC are exempt from this requirement

Spare Propulsion

Vessels less than 21 feet long must have onboard at least one spare motor, paddle or oar. Sailboards and PWC are exempt from this requirement.

Airboat Requirements

Airboats operated on the Great Salt Lake or its adjacent marshes must have onboard a compass and at least one of: approved flares, a strobe light, or other visual distress signal.

Diver Down Flag

Persons scuba diving, skin diving and snorkeling must display a “diver down” flag to mark their diving area. Between sunset and sunrise, the flag must be lighted. Vessels not engaged in diving operations must remain at least 150 feet from a displayed”diver down” flag. The “diver down” flags are:

• A rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe
• A blue and white International Code Flag A (or Alfa flag), at least one meter (3.3 ft.) in height

Illustration	Types of Flags
	Divers Flag: A rectangular red flag with a white diagonal stripe attached to a vessel, float or buoy.
	Alfa Flag: A blue and white International Code Flag A (or Alfa flag), at least 1 meter (3.3 feet) high and visible from all directions, flown from a vessel.

Scuba divers and snorkelers should not place a flag in an area already occupied by other boaters or where their diving operation will impede the normal flow of waterway traffic.

Skier Down Flag

Vessels towing person(s) on water-skis or other devices must display an international orange “skier down” flag whenever the towed person(s) has fallen into the water or is preparing to ski.