This summary of federal regulations is provided as a convenience ONLY. It is highly recommended to download a copy of the "Safe Boating Guide" for all equipment requirements. Government Links
The Canadian Small Vessel Regulations have mandated minimum equipment on board a vessel in Canada, from small rowboats to large cruisers. You can be charged up to $200 for each safety item you don't have on board!
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.
Distress Signals:
Most Canadian pleasure craft over 6 metres are currently require some pyrotechnic flares. Pyrotechnic flares must be less than 4 years old, but the required number is reduced by half if using certain communication equipment. Electronic visual distress signal devices (eVDSD) can be used instead of some pyrotechnic flares. (flares)
Paddleboat, Watercycle, Stand-Up Paddleboard, Sealed-Hull Sit-On-Top Kayak
Rowboat, canoe, kayak up to 6 metres in length (19'8")
- Life jacket or PDF for each person on board
- Reboarding device / ladder - if gunwales are higher than 50 cm (1'8") above water
- Buoyant heaving line 15 m (50')
Over 6 metres - add:
- Watertight flashlight
- 6 Type A, B, or C flares (max. 2 smoke signals)
- Bailer or bilge pump
- Sound signalling device
- Navigation lights [not required in daylight and good visibility]
- Magnetic compass [not required within sight of navigation marks]
- Radar reflector [not required under most day and near-shore use]
Personal Watercraft PWC
- 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]
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- 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")
- Life jacket or PFD for each person on board
-
Buoyant heaving line 15 metres
- Reboarding device / ladder
- Manual propelling device OR anchor with 15 m (50') of rode
- Hand-bailer OR manual pump
- If equipped with motor: Watertight flashlight OR 3 Type A, B, or C flares
- 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 equipped with inboard engine, fuel tank, fuel-burning stove, fridge or heater.
6 - 9 metres in length (19'8"-29'6")
- 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
- 6 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")
- 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
- 1 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 motor
- Class 10BC fire extinguisher if 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
- 1 fire axe
More than 24 m in length (more than 78'9")
- 1 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 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
- 4 fire buckets 10+ litres
- 2 fire axes
Canadian Red Cross studies show that nearly 90% of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket or PFD. Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death for Canadians under 44, and the leading cause of preventable death among toddlers. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among Ontario children under five (statistics).
Equipment Notes
Equipment Details are in the "Safe Boating Guide".
Life jackets and PFDs (personal floatation devices) must be Canadian government approved and properly sized for each person on board. (Red Cross video - using life jackets)
Inflatable lifejackets may not work unless maintained regularly, and should not be used by non-swimmers. Inflatable PFDs are currently only approved for people 16 years and older. (Proposed changes to regulations)
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 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.
Magnetic compass is not required on boats 8 m or less and within sight of navigation marks.
Head: 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 cellphone. You must Dispose of flares safely if they become outdated.
Type A: Parachute flares (burns for at least 40 seconds)
Type B: Multi-Star flares (burns 4 to 5 seconds).
Type C: Hand held flares.
Type D: Hand held or buoyant smoke flare (day use only).
All these regulations are for minimum equipment on board a vessel. There are specific equipment requirements for guided (paddling) excursions for first aid kits and navigation equipment.
(Government Links: Canada Shipping Act)
You are encouraged to add equipment to your boat for additional safety.
For example: a compass, spotlight, first aid kit, medical kit, tool kit, 7x50 binoculars, chain added to anchor line, extra anchors, 3A-40BC fire extinguishers, battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors, life-raft, jack lines, safety harness, hand holds, 'man overboard pole', VHF radio, depth sounder, knotmeter, GPS, etc. Even if you use electronic navigation, you should carry paper charts as backup. (Check out our list of navigation tools and techniques and E-charts.)
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.
