Requirements to Carry Fire Extinguishers

Federal law requires all vessels, including PWC, to have a Type B fire extinguisher on board if one or more of the following conditions exist:

• Any inboard engine
• Closed compartments where portable fuel tanks may be stored
• Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not filled completely with flotation material
• Closed living spaces
• Closed storage compartments in which flammable or combustible materials may be stored
• Permanently installed fuel tanks (any tank where the removal of the tank is hampered by the installation of tie-down straps or clamps)

Most vessels are required to have a Type B fire extinguisher on board, in serviceable condition, and readily available. The only exceptions are:

• Any non-motorized boat
• Class A or Class 1 boats with construction that will not permit the entrapment of flammable gases or vapors

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.