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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.

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

Closed compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks may be stored
Closed storage compartments in which flammable or combustible materials may be stored
Closed living spaces
Permanently installed fuel tanks

Check all extinguishers annually to make sure they are fully charged. Extinguishers must be maintained in usable condition and should be serviced at least every two years. Refer to the label for additional servicing information.

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. Only fire extinguishers that are USCG-approved are legal for use on vessels.

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

Length of Vessel	Without Fixed System	With Fixed System *
Less than 26 feet	one B-I	None
26 feet to less than 40 feet	two B-I or one B-II	one B-I
40 feet to less than 65 feet	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

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.

Extinguishers should be serviced at least every two years. See the label for additional servicing information.
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.

PWC operators need to take special steps in case of fire. Because their fire extinguishers may not be easily accessible, they should simply swim away quickly and use another operator’s extinguisher. They should not open the engine compartment to put out the fire.

Remember—Keep bilges clean and free of trash in order to reduce the risk of fire.

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.

Fire extinguisher charge indicator: Needle style

Backfire Flame Control Devices

All motorboats built after April 1940, with inboard-mounted gasoline engines (this includes inboards, inboard-outboards, and airboats) must have a backfire flame control device mounted securely to each carburetor.

Backfire flame control devices must be:

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

Backfire flame control devices ensure that any engine backfire is dispersed into the atmosphere and also substantially reduce the chance of explosion or fire.

Periodically clean the backfire flame control device and check for any damage.

Proper Ventilation

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 (such as PWCs), open the engine compartment and sniff for gasoline fumes before starting the engine.

WARNING: Gasoline vapors can explode. Before starting engine, operate blower for four minutes and check (using your nose) engine compartment for gasoline vapors.

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

All vessel engines must be equipped with an effective muffling device. Vessel operators may not hear sound signals or voices if the engine is not muffled adequately, and the noise is irritating to other people.

The use of any type of exhaust cutout that allows exhaust to bypass the engine muffling system is prohibited.

Muffling an airboat's exhaust with automotive-style mufflers is required in Florida. Read about requirements specific to airboats.

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.