BOATsmart! USA Knowledge Base

Most powerboats operate using  gasoline, which would explode if it came into contact with a flame. Fire emergencies will always be a risk for boaters, but fires can be fought with the right equipment. Although some boat types are not required to carry a fire extinguisher, you should always have one on board your boat.

The USCG has identified certain conditions that legally require a Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher to be on your boat.

Does your boat have any of these features?

• Enclosed living and cooking spaces?
• Permanently installed fuel tanks (or tanks that are too heavy to lift)?
• Enclosed engine compartments?
• Seat compartments where engine tanks may be stored?
• Double bottoms not permanently sealed to the hull (or not completely filled with flotation material)?

If you answered ‘YES’ to any one of these features, you are required to have a Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher on your boat.