46 CFR 180

Question 1

EPIRB requirements?

Answer 1

Each vessel that operates on the high seas, or that operates beyond three miles from the coastline of the Great Lakes, must have on board a FCC Type Accepted Category 1, 406 MHz EPIRB, installed to automatically Float Free and activate

Question 2

Flare requirements

Answer 2

-Oceans, Coastwise, limited coastwise, or Great Lakes = 6 hand red flares and six hand orange smoke signals
-Lakes/Bays/Sounds, and river routes = 3 red flares, 3 orange smoke signals

Question 3

Exemption to flares?

Answer 3

Vessels operating on short runs limited to approximately 30 min away from the dock are not required to carry flares and smoke signals

Question 4

Flare stowage?

Answer 4

Portable watertight container marked as required by 185.614

Question 5

How many ring life buoys?

Answer 5

-Vessel less than 26 ft must carry a minimum of 1 life buoy not less than 20 inches in diameter
-26ft to 65ft must carry a minimum of 1 not less than 24 inches in diameter
-Greater than 65 feet must carry a minimum of 3 life buoys not less than 24 inches in diameter

Question 6

Stowage of ring life buoy?

Answer 6

-Not be permanently secured in any way
-At least one ring life buoy must be fitted with a lifeline, if more than one carried, at least one without lifeline as well
-A vessel must carry one floating water light

Question 7

Water light requirements

Answer 7

-Must be approved IAW sub Q
-have a lanyard of at least 3 feet, securing the water light around the body of the ring life buoy

Question 8

Life jacket requirements?

Answer 8

-An adult life jacket must be provided for each person carried on board a vessel
-Must carry 10% child lifejackets
-If “extended size” life jackets, must carry 5% child lifejackets

Question 9

When is a life jacket light required?

Answer 9

-Each life jacket carried on a vessel on oceans, coastwise, or Great Lakes route, must have a life jacket light approved
-Each life jacket light must be securely attached to the front shoulder area of the life jacket

Question 10

Stowage of survival craft

Answer 10

-Secured to vessel by painter with float free link
-Inflates automatically
-Ready for immediate use (Launching within 5 minutes)

Question 11

Maximum weight of each group of life floats?

Answer 11

400 pounds

Question 12

Max height for life floats?

Answer 12

4 feet high

Question 13

length of paddle for life float?

Answer 13

minimum 4 feet and lashed to life float