BOATsmart! USA Knowledge Base

Always have the right safety equipment onboard your boat. It’s one of the most important things you can do for boating safety and it’s the law.

Federal law requires that all boats be equipped with one wearable lifejacket for each passenger onboard the boat (wearable lifejackets include Types I, II, III, or V). As the boat operator, it’s your responsibility to provide a lifejacket for each of your passengers. Remember, there are fines for those who fail to carry the proper number and/or type of lifejackets for their passengers.