U.S. Coast Guard approved marine-type fire extinguishers
fully charged and in good and serviceable condition
are required on recreational boats
where the engines or fuel system could pose a fire hazard and any of these conditions exist:
There are 1) closed compartments under thwarts and seats wherein portable fuel tanks may be stored,
2) double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation material,
3) closed living spaces,
4) stowage compartments in which combustible or flammable materials are stowed,
or 5) permanently installed fuel tanks.
Generally, all motorized vessels must have the required number of fire extinguishers in good and serviceable condition on board.
Fire extinguishers are not required
on non-motorized sailboats,
kayaks,
canoes,
and other human-propelled watercraft.
Operators should brief passengers on the location and use of onboard fire extinguishers.
“PASS” is a handy acronym meaning pull, aim, squeeze, and sweep.
Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher to break the seal.
Stand at a safe distance and aim at the base of the fire.
Squeeze the handles together to discharge the extinguishing agent.
Sweep back and forth briskly to extinguish the fire at its source.
Portable extinguishers will typically discharge their contents in fifteen-to-thirty seconds.
Fire extinguishers are classified by letter and number
indicating the type of fire they’re designed to put out and their quantity of extinguishing agent.
Type A is designed for combustible materials like wood or paper,
type B for flaming liquids like gasoline or oil,
and C for electrical equipment fires.
The higher the number, the greater the amount of extinguishing agent contained.
A new numbering system provides more specificity than the previously used system.
For example, 5B replaces B-I and 20B replaces B-II.
Both old and new numeric classifications are currently shown on labels.
Coast Guard approved extinguishers required for recreational boats are hand portable,
have either a 5B
or B-I
or 20B / B-II classification,
and must be sold with a mounting bracket.
While not required, it is recommended that
extinguishers be mounted in a readily accessible location such as the steering station, galley, or engine room –
but away from places where a fire may likely start.
The number and type of fire extinguishers required on recreational vessels are
one 5B / B-I for boats less than twenty-six feet in length,
two 5B / B-Is or one 20B / B-II for boats twenty-six to less than forty feet in length,
and three 5B / B-Is or one 5B / B-I and one 20B / B-II for boats forty to sixty-five feet in length.
If a Coast Guard approved fixed fire-extinguishing system is installed for the protection of the engine compartment,
the required number of extinguishers may be
reduced to zero for boats less than twenty-six feet,
one 5B / B-I for boats twenty-six to less than forty feet,
and two 5B / B-Is or one 20B / B-II for boats forty to sixty-five feet.
Extinguishers can be approved for multiple types of fires.
An extinguisher marked type-A size two, type-B and-C size one, is acceptable as a type 5B / B-I extinguisher.
Look for the section of the label that shows marine type and has a USCG approval number
and make sure type B is indicated.
Hand-portable extinguishers will be either a size 5 / I or size or 20 / II.
Boat operators should maintain their fire extinguishers in good and serviceable condition.
It is recommended that extinguishers be inspected before each voyage
to ensure they’re in their designated locations, undamaged, unobstructed, and operational.
Check for obvious signs of physical damage, such as corrosion, leakage, or dents;
the pressure gauge indicator in its operating range; the pull-pin not missing, and the pin-seal intact.
Fire extinguishers that do not satisfy these standards
or that have been partially emptied must be replaced.
Above all, ensure that the proper number of functional fire extinguishers are on board,
readily accessible
and that all responsible adults on board know to pull, aim, squeeze, and sweep.