| Required Equipment |
PWC |
Boat Less than 16' |
Boat 16' to Less than 26' |
| Boater Safety Certificate |
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| Boater Safety Certificate: Applicable if operator is a minor. |
| Certificate of Number on Board |
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| Validation Decals Displayed |
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| PFDs: Type I, II, or III (one per person) |
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| Those on PWCs must wear a PFD at all times. Inflatable PFDs are not allowed on PWCs. Those under the age of 6 years must wear a Type I or II personal flotation device when riding on the open deck of any vessel. |
| PFD: Type IV |
n/a |
n/a |
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| Type B-1 Fire Extinguisher |
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| Ignition Safety Switch |
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n/a |
n/a |
| Backfire Flame Arrestor |
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Required on inboard and stern drives only. |
Required on inboard and stern drives only. |
| Ventilation
System |
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| Muffler |
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| Horn,
Whistle, or Bell |
Required only on the Great Lakes and waters connected to the Great Lakes. |
Required only on the Great Lakes and waters connected to the Great Lakes. |
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| Daytime Visual
Distress Signals |
n/a |
n/a |
Required only on the Great Lakes and waters connected to the Great Lakes. |
| Nighttime Visual
Distress Signals |
Some items are not applicable to PWCs since they are not allowed to operate between one hour before sunset and 8:00 a.m. |
Required only on the Great Lakes and waters connected to the Great Lakes. |
Required only on the Great Lakes and waters connected to the Great Lakes. |
| Navigation Lights |
Some items are not applicable to PWCs since they are not allowed to operate between one hour before sunset and 8:00 a.m. |
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| Unpowered vessels (sailboats under sail, rowboats, etc.) are required only to have on hand a flashlight or a lantern. |