What safety equipment is required on a boat in Alberta and Canada?
What safety equipment is required on a boat in Alberta and Canada?
If you’re new to boating and you’re wondering what safety equipment is required on a boat in Alberta and Canada, then we have the answers for you. This article lists the mandatory safety equipment in Alberta and Canada, as well as other important safety information you need to know.
Mandatory Safety Regulations from Transport Canada
Transport Canada regulates the mandatory safety equipment for boating in Alberta and Canada.
As stated by the Government of Canada, there are some rules you need to follow to avoid being penalized. You can be fined up to $200 for each safety item you don’t have on your boat and face further penalties if you don’t follow the regulations.
Before we list the details, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- The minimum mandates are based on the size of your watercraft
- If you’re renting or borrowing a craft, all requirements still apply, regardless of the craft’s size. The responsibility for having all the mandatory equipment is shared equally by the lessor and lessee.
- Most importantly, the required equipment must be carried on board, be in good working order, maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions, and available immediately in case of emergency. So, remember to examine the condition of your equipment to ensure all required safety equipment is in working condition.
In addition to the required safety equipment on a boat, here are some other things that will make your trip more enjoyable:
- Waterproof bag to hold anything that needs to stay dry.
- Spare clothing to change into when you get wet or if the weather suddenly changes.
- Drinking water and snacks to keep you hydrated and happy for hours on board.
- Tools and spare parts such as fuses, spark plugs, etc.
- A first aid kit just in case of an emergency.
Now that you know the basics, let’s get into the specific safety equipment required based on the size of your craft.
What safety equipment is required in Alberta and Canada based on the size of your boat?
Small Vessel Regulations:
There is specific equipment mandated based on the size of your small vessel. Be sure to read the laws carefully before heading onto the waters.
Paddleboat, Watercycle, Stand-Up Paddleboard, Sealed-Hull Sit-On-Top Kayak:
- PFD or lifejacket
- Sound-signalling device (whistle)
- A watertight flashlight if you’re going after sunset or when visibility is low
- A reboarding device, unless the vertical height that must be climbed to reboard the pleasure craft is not more than 0.5 m
Rowboat, canoe, kayak up to 6 metres in length (19'8")
- A life jacket or PDF for each person on board
- A reboarding device, unless the vertical height to climb to reboard the pleasure craft is not more than 0.5 m; and
- Buoyant heaving line 15 m (50')
Personal Watercraft PWC
If everyone is wearing a lifejacket/PFD, you are only required to carry the first five items.
- A life jacket or PDF for each person on board
- Sound signalling device
- Watertight flashlight OR 3 approved Type A, B, or C flares.
- Magnetic compass [not required within sight of navigation marks]
- Navigation lights [not required in daylight and good visibility]
- Reboarding device / ladder - if gunwales are higher than 50 cm (1'8") above water
- Buoyant heaving line 15 m (50')
- Manual propelling device (oar) OR anchor with 15 m (50') of rode
- Hand-bailer OR manual pump
- Radar reflector [not required under most day and near-shore use]
- Class 5BC fire extinguisher
Up to 6 metres in length (19'8"):
For a motorized craft no greater than 6 metres (19 feet 8 inches) in length, the following equipment is required:
- An appropriately sized, Canadian-approved personal flotation device ( PFD ) or life vest for each person on board
- A buoyant heaving line (15 metres in length)
- Manual propelling device or anchor with at least 15 metres of rope, cable or chain
- Bailer or hand pump
- Sound-signalling device
- Navigation lights if the craft is used between sunset and sunrise or during periods of reduced visibility, i.e. mist and rain
- A class 5BC fire extinguisher for any craft equipped with an inboard motor, fixed fuel tank, and/or any fuel-burning cooking, heating or refrigeration units
- A waterproof flashlight or 3 Canadianapproved flares (type A, B or C flares)
- A vessel license if your craft is outfitted, even temporarily, with any motor of 10 hp (7.5 kW ) or more. Ensure your vessel is properly marked and you carry a copy of the vessel license
6 - 9 metres in length (19'8"-29'6"):
- A life jacket or PDF for each person on board
- Buoyant heaving 15 metres (50') OR a life buoy attached to buoyant line 15 m.
- Reboarding device / ladder
- Manual propelling device (oar) OR anchor with 15 m (50') rode
- Bailer OR manual pump
- Watertight flashlight
- Six flares: type A, B, or C *Exempt if never more than 1 nm (1.8 km) from shore
- Sound signalling device
- Navigation lights - if operated at night or in restricted visibility
- Magnetic compass [not required within sight of navigation marks]
- Radar reflector [not required under most day and near-shore use]
- Class 5BC fire extinguisher if vessel equipped with a motor
- Class 5BC fire extinguisher if fuel-burning stove, fridge, or heater
9 - 12 metres in length (29'6"-39'4"):
- A life jacket or PFD for each person on board
- Buoyant heaving line 15 m (50')
- Life buoy attached to buoyant line 15 m (50').
- Reboarding device / ladder
- One anchor with 30 m (100') of rode
- Manual Bilge pump OR bilge pump
- Watertight flashlight
- 12* flares of Type A, B, C or D (max. 6 Type D)
- Sound signalling device [horn]
- Navigation lights
- Magnetic compass
- Radar reflector [not required under most day and near-shore use]
- Class 10BC fire extinguisher if vessel equipped with a motor
- Class 10BC fire extinguisher if the vessel has fuel-burning heater, stove or refrigerator
12 - 24 metres in length (39'4"-78'9"):
- Life jacket or PFD for each person on board
- Buoyant heaving line 15 m (50')
- Life buoy attached to self-igniting light OR 15 m (50') buoyant line
- 1 reboarding device [ladder]
- 1 anchor with 15 m (50') cable, rope or chain
- Bilge pumping system
- Watertight flashlight
- 12 flares Type A, B, C or D (max. 6 Type D)
- Navigation lights must comply with Collision Regulations
- Sound signalling device (Collision Regulations)
- Magnetic compass (Safety Regulations)
- Radar reflector [not required under most day and near-shore use]
- Class 10BC fire extinguisher at each of the following locations:
- entrance to space with a fuel-burning stove, heating or refrigerator
- entrance to accommodation space
- entrance to machinery space
- 2 fire buckets
- One fire axe
More than 24 m in length (more than 78'9"):
- One approved and properly sized life jacket (yellow, red or orange) or PFD (personal floatation device) for each person on board
- Buoyant heaving line 15 m (50')
- Two SOLAS life buoys - one with buoyant line 30 m, one equipped with a self-igniting light
- Lifting harness with rigging
- Reboarding device / ladder
- 1 anchor with 15 m (50') cable, rope or chain
- Bilge pumping system
- Watertight flashlight
- 12 flares Type six A, B, C or D (max. 6 Type D)
- Sound signalling device (Collision Regulations)
- Navigation lights
- Magnetic compass (Safety Regulations)
- Radar reflector [not required under most day and near-shore use]
- Class 10BC fire extinguishers at each of the following locations:
- entrance to space with a fuel-burning stove, heating or refrigerator
- entrance to accommodation space
- entrance to machinery space
- Four fire buckets 10+ litres
- Two fire axes
Equipment Notes
- Life jackets and PFDs (personal floatation devices) must be Canadian government-approved and properly sized for each person on board. Inflatable lifejackets that are not maintained regularly may not work and should not be worn by non-swimmers. Inflatable PFDs are currently only approved for people 16 years and older.
- Anchor "rode" can be rope, cable or chain.
- Manual pumps require enough hose to pump water overboard but are not required for a self-bailing sealed hull sailboat that cannot contain enough water to make the vessel capsize or a multi-hull vessel that has subdivided multiple-sealed hull construction.
- Reboarding devices are usually a ladder and are not required if the boat's freeboard (distance from the water to top edge of the hull) is less than 0.5 metres (1'8").
- Navigation lights must comply with Collision Regulations and are not required on some boat types if operated during daylight in good visibility.
- A magnetic compass is not required on boats 8 m or less and within sight of navigation marks.
- Head (toilet): In most provinces in Canada, if you have a head on board, it must be permanently installed in the boat and equipped for proper pump out (this includes porta-potties).
- Horseshoe buoy and Rescue Stick(TM) do NOT fulfil Canadian safety requirements but certainly can be useful in an emergency.
- Flares must be Canadian approved and not beyond the expiry date - 4 years from the date of manufacture, which is printed on the label. Recent changes permit the number of distress signals to be reduced by half if the craft has a two-way radio or cell phone. You must Dispose of flares safely if they become outdated.
Ensure you have all the safety equipment and more
All these regulations are for minimum equipment on board a vessel. You should bring additional equipment for extra safety such as a compass, spotlight, first aid kit, medical kit, tool kit, binoculars, GPS, etc. Even if you’re using an electronic navigation device, you should carry a paper map as a backup.
A radar reflector should be 4 m (13') or more above the water (if possible) when operating in ship channels or offshore. Ships just can't see a pleasure boat on their radar.
To read more about boating regulations, head to this website.
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