ALL THE NEWS THAT’S FIT TO PRINT

You get what you need from the crew at Boating.

Anew law regarding the fire extinguishers that must be carried aboard recreational boats goes into effect April 20, 2022, about one week following subscriber delivery and newsstand sale of this issue of the magazine. The new regulation, which can be found in the Federal Register at CFR 33 Part 175 Subpart E, breaks down into three main takeaways and applies to recreational boats less than 65 feet in length overall. Notably, outboard-powered boats without any closed compartments that could hold explosive vapors or gases (think simple skiffs, Garveys, johnboats, etc.) are not required to carry fire-extinguishing equipment by federal law.

The first takeaway is that portable fire extinguishers aboard all recreational boats must not be older than 12 years. The age of a fire extinguisher might be stamped on the bottom. We think this is a reasonable service life for a device that can save a life. If your extinguishers have no date, we say replace them.

The second thing to know about the new regulation is that it requires all boats from model year 2018 and newer to carry fire extinguishers labeled 5-B, 10-B or 20-B. Extinguishers labeled with the old B-I or B-II designations only are no longer acceptable. Boats older than 2018 can still carry extinguishers labeled B-1 or B-II provided they are serviceable and not date-stamped as more than 12 years old. Again, we say replace those 12-year or older extinguishers anyway.

Third, the number of extinguishers required to be carried aboard any boat type has not changed.

At Boating, we feel obligated to stay abreast of what’s happening in the world of boating and boats, and share these developments with you. This is especially true of safety concerns and new regulations that can directly affect your days on the water. When the engine cutoff switch (ECOS) and engine cutoff switch link (ECOSL) law went into effect last year, we reported on it. When Type V inflatable life jackets became legal over a decade ago, we reported on it. When overboard discharge was banned, we reported on it and informed on how to reequip your boats. There is a history of our operating at the intersection of reader service and the public good.

In this very issue, you can learn about why you might select e-flares as signaling devices (page 42), how to choose between various Type IV throwable devices (page 40), and why “right of way” is the wrong mindset to use on the water (page 38).

Of course, you can also learn about things like electric propulsion, and the ups and downs of a dedicated group from Annapolis pursuing the boating lifestyle. In any case, enjoy the issue.

This is a reasonable service life for a device that can save a life. If your extinguishers have no date, we say replace them.