Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Mississippi Required Equipment Checklist

indicates the equipment is required by state law.

Required Equipment	PWC	Boat Less than 16'	Boat 16' to Less Than 26'
Boating Education Certificate	1	1	1
1) Boating Education Certificate: Applicable if operator is born after June 30, 1980.
Certificate of Number on Board
Validation Decals Displayed
PFDs: Type I, II, III or V (one per person)	2	3	3
2) Those on a PWC must wear a Type I, II, or III PFD at all times. 3) Those 12 years of age and younger must wear a PFD at all times when underway in a vessel less than 26 ft. in length.
PFD: Type IV	n/a	n/a
Ignition Safety Switch	Required if operating on Mississippi marine waters south of Interstate Highway 10 (I-10).	n/a	n/a
Type B-1 Fire Extinguisher
Backfire Flame Arrestor		Required on inboard and stern drives only.	Required on inboard and stern drives only.
Ventilation System
Muffler
Horn, Whistle, or Bell
Daytime Visual Distress Signals	n/a	n/a	Required only when boating on federally controlled waters.
Nighttime Visual Distress Signals	It is strongly recommended that PWCs are not operated after dark. However, if one is operated at night, it has the same requirements for visual distress signals and navigation lights as a boat less than 16 feet long.	Required only when boating on federally controlled waters.	Required only when boating on federally controlled waters.
Navigation Lights	It is strongly recommended that PWCs are not operated after dark. However, if one is operated at night, it has the same requirements for visual distress signals and navigation lights as a boat less than 16 feet long.