Author: Boat Accessories Australia Date Posted: 20 June 2022
The safety equipment you need on your boat depends on the type of waterway you’re on, the vessel you’re in and distance from shore.
Equipping your boat with the correct safety equipment for your state or territory and keeping it in good working order is the best way of averting disaster when you’re out on the water. The difference between a simple mishap and a fatality could be determined by the safety equipment on board. If equipment is missing or not where it should be, the boat’s skipper and passengers can be in grave danger.
The rules vary in each state & territory, and there are also different requirements for boats used in enclosed waters (rivers, lakes, estuaries) vs boats used in the ocean. Some state and territory requirements vary based on the water conditions as well. Check out the requirements for your state or territory and make sure your boat is fitted out appropriately.
Enclosed Waters are navigable waters enclosed by land or a port. They include inland and coastal rivers and lakes, creeks and lagoons, enclosed coastal bays, ports and harbours, estuaries, dams and all alpine waters.
Open Waters are navigable waters that are not enclosed by land or not within a river, bay, harbour or port. They include coastal and ocean waters.
On powerboats of any size, you must carry:
| Equipment you must carry | Enclosed Waters | Open Waters |
|---|---|---|
| Lifejackets for each person on board | Level 50S+ | Level 100+ |
| Anchor and chain/line | 1 | 1 |
| Bailer or bucket with lanyard | 1 | 1 |
| Bilge pump | 1 | 1 |
| Chart / Map | - | 1 |
| Compass | - | 1 |
| Distress flares | - | 2 orange smoke / 2 red hand |
| Drinking water | - | 2 litres per person |
| EPIRB 406MHz (in date and registered with AMSA) | - | 1 (if 2nm or more from the shore) |
| Fire extinguisher | 1 | 1 |
| Marine radio | - | 1 (if 2nm or more from the shore) |
| Paddles or oars and rowlocks | 1 | 1 |
| Safety label | 1 | 1 |
| Sound signal | 1 | 1 |
| V sheet (min 1.8m x 1.2m) | - | 1 |
| Working waterproof buoyant torch | 1 | 1 |
Other recommended equipment (for both enclosed and open waters):
For more information, see NSW’s Transport Roads and Maritime Services Safety Equipment.
Enclosed waters on Lake Burley Griffin.
The following safety recommendations are applicable to all watercrafts:
For more information, see Lake Burley Griffin Watercraft Safety.
Coastal Offshore: more than 2nm from coast
Coastal Inshore: less than 2nm from coast
Enclosed: Bays and estuaries
Inland: Rivers, lakes and dams
| Equipment you must carry | Coastal Offshore | Coastal Inshore | Enclosed | Inland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifejackets for each person on board | Level 100+ | Level 100+ | Level 100+ | Level 50S+ |
| Anchor and chain/line | 1 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Bailer or bucket with lanyard | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bilge pump | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Compass | 1 | - | - | - |
| Distress flares | 2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
- |
| EPIRB 406MHz (in date and registered with AMSA) | 1 | - | - | - |
| Fire extinguisher | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Marine radio | 1 | - | - | - |
| Paddles or oars and rowlocks (if vessel length is up to & including 4.8m) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lifebuoy (if vessel length is more than 8m but less than 12m) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lifebuoy (if vessel length is 12m or more) |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Dinghy or liferaft (if vessel length is 12m or more) |
1 | 1 | - | - |
| Red Star parachute distress rocket | 1 | - | - | - |
| Working waterproof buoyant torch | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
For more information, see Maritime Safety Victoria.
Smooth waters include rivers, creeks, streams and lakes, waters within breakwaters or revetments and within half a nautical mile from land within partially smooth water limits.
Click here to view Smooth and partially smooth water limits for locations around QLD.
| Equipment you MUST carry | Smooth Waters | Partically Smooth Waters |
Beyond Partially Smooth Waters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifejackets for each person on board | Level 50S+ | Level 50+ | Level 100+ |
| Distress flares | - | 2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
| EPIRB 406MHz (in date and registered with AMSA) |
- | - | 1 |
| Fire extinguisher | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| V sheet (min 1.8m x 1.2m) | - | 1 | 1 |
| Working waterproof buoyant torch | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Equipment you should carry | Smooth Waters | Partically Smooth Waters |
Beyond Partially Smooth Waters |
| Paddles or oars and rowlocks (if vessel length is under 6m) |
1 | 1 | 1 |
| Anchor and chain/line | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bilge Pump, bailer or bucket with lanyard |
1 | 1 | 1 |
| Chart / Map | - | 1 | 1 |
| Compass | - | 1 | 1 |
| Drinking Water | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Handheld electronic navigation device (if not equipped with chart and compass) |
- | 1 | 1 |
For more information, see Maritime Safety Queensland.
Protected waters are WA’s navigable waters that are contained in a lake, in a river, in an estuary, or by any breakwater.
| Equipment you must carry | Protected Waters | 0-2NM Offshore | 2-5NM Offshore | Over 5NM Offshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifejackets for each person on board | - | Level 100+ | Level 100+ | Level 100+ |
| Anchor and chain/line | - | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bailer or bucket with lanyard (instead of Bilge Pump - only if vessel is under 7m) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bilge pump | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Distress flares | 2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
|
| Parachute Flares | - | - | - | 2 |
| EPIRB 406MHz (in date and registered with AMSA) | - | - | 1 | 1 |
| Fire extinguisher | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Marine radio | - | - | - | 1 |
For more information, see Department of Transport WA’s Safety Equipment.
Protected Waters: These include all inland waters, excluding Lake Alexandrina, Lake Albert and any other waters subject to tidal influence.
Semi-protected Waters: These are waters up to two nautical miles from the low-water mark of the coast of mainland South Australia and Kangaroo Island and from the banks of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert (and also the Coorong).
Unprotected Waters: These are waters more than two nautical miles from the low-water mark of the coast and from the banks of Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert.
| Equipment you must carry | Protected Waters |
Semi-Protected Waters |
Unprotected Waters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifejackets for each person on board | Level 50S+ | Level 50S+ | Level 100+ |
| Anchor and chain/line | 1 | 1 (2 if vessel length is over 8m) |
1 (2 if vessel length is over 8m) |
| Bailer or bucket with lanyard | 1 | 1 (2 if vessel length is over 8m) |
1 (2 if vessel length is over 8m) |
| Bilge pump | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Compass | - | - | 1 |
| Distress flares | - | 2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
| Drinking water | - | - | 4L |
| Fire extinguisher | 1 (2 if vessel length is over 8m) |
1 (2 if vessel length is over 8m) |
1 (2 if vessel length is over 8m) |
| Marine radio | - | - | 1 |
| Paddles or oars and rowlocks (if vessel length is under 8m) |
1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lifebuoy with line (if vessel length is over 8m) |
1 | 1 | 1 |
| Working waterproof buoyant torch | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fire bucket (if vessel length is over 8m) |
1 | 1 | 1 |
Additional Requirements
All vessels regardless of length, that are in unprotected waters more than three nautical miles from shore, except in Lakes Alexandrina and Albert, or more than five nautical miles from shore in the Gulf of St Vincent or the Spencer Gulf must carry:
All vessels more than 10 nautical miles off from shore must also carry:
A recreational boat over 15 metres in length must carry all of the above, plus:
For more information, see the South Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet Safety Equipment.
Inland Waters: Non tidal rivers, lakes, dams and billabongs.
Intermediate Waters: All tidal rivers, declared sheltered waters areas and all other coastal waters up to 2 nautical miles from the coastline.
Open Waters: Means beyond intermediate waters.
| Equipment you must carry | Inland Waters | Intermediate Waters | Open Waters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifejackets for each person on board | Level 50S+ | Level 100+ | Level 100+ |
| Anchor and chain/line | 1 | 1 (2 if vessel length is over 10m) |
1 (2 if vessel length is over 10m) |
| Bilge pump, bailer or bucket with lanyard (A bilge pump is required for all vessels with covered bilges.) |
1 | 1 | 1 |
| Chart / Map | - | - | 1 |
| Compass | - | - | 1 |
| Distress flares | - | 2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
| Drinking water | 2L per person | 2L per person | 2L per person |
| EPIRB 406MHz (in date and registered with AMSA) | - | - | 1 |
| Fire extinguisher (if vessel length is over 5m) |
- | 1 (2 if vessel length is over 10m) |
1 (2 if vessel length is over 10m) |
| Paddles or oars and rowlocks (if vessel length is under 5m) |
1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lifebuoy (if vessel length is over 10m) |
- | - | 1 |
| V sheet (min 1.8m x 1.2m) | - | 1 | 1 |
| Working waterproof buoyant torch | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 9L Fire bucket with lanyard (if vessel length is over 10m) |
- | 2 | 2 |
For more information see the Northern Territory’s Safety Guide for Recreational Boating.
Smooth Waters: Inland lakes and rivers.
Sheltered Waters: All waters not exceeding 2 nautical miles to seaward of land on the North and East coasts unless specified in the MAST “Limits of Operational Areas”. It is recommended that vessels less than 6 metres in length should not proceed beyond sheltered waters.
Coastal Waters: All other waters beyond Sheltered Waters as well as waters on the South and West Coasts between South East Cape and Cape Grim.
| Equipment you must carry | Smooth Waters | Sheltered Waters | Coastal Waters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lifejackets for each person on board | Level 50S+ | Level 100+ | Level 100+ |
| Anchor and chain/line | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Bilge pump, bailer or bucket with lanyard | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Distress flares | *recommended | 2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
2 orange smoke 2 red hand |
| Drinking water | *recommended | *recommended | 1 |
| EPIRB 406MHz (in date and registered with AMSA) | *recommended | *recommended | 1 |
| Marine Radio | *recommended | *recommended | 1 |
| Fire extinguisher | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Paddles or oars and rowlocks (if vessel length is under 6m) |
1 | 1 | 1 |
| Lifebuoy | *recommended | 1 (if vessel length is over 6m) |
1 |
| Heaving Line | *recommended | 1 (if vessel length is over 6m) |
1 |
| Working waterproof buoyant torch | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Radar reflector | *recommended | *recommended | 1 |
| First Aid Kit | *recommended | *recommended | 1 |
For more information see Marine and Safety Tasmania’s Safety Equipment.
The above safety equipment applies to motor boats. For information on safety equipment for canoes/kayaks racing shells surf boats and skis rowboats dinghies personal watercraft sailing vessels off the beach vessels tenders sailboats and kiteboards see the link above for your state or territory.
The most critical piece of safety equipment is the life jacket. The design of jackets has improved over the years so they are much thinner and more comfortable to wear. Boat users are encouraged to wear their life jacket for the duration of the trip in open water. They have a far higher chance of surviving a boat capsizing or a fall overboard if they are wearing their life jacket.
The technology has saved many people’s lives worldwide. When you are nautical miles offshore an EPIRB may be your only chance at rescue.
Being able to communicate with boats in the area by radio allows you to call for help quickly.
Most flares only last three years before they expire. Make sure you keep a check on the expiry dates of flares and life jackets and replace before the expiry date. Fines can apply for having expired safety equipment on board.
If you have any queries about whether your safety equipment meets your state’s requirements, contact your states marine department to ensure the information provided is current and up to date.
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