One of the most important aspects of boating is safety. Whether it’s myself and a few buddies fishing for an afternoon, or having guests on board, safety is the number one priority. Being a licensed charter fishing boat, the State of Massachusetts requires a number of safety items. I carry more in addition to those requirements; it’s tough for me to justify spending $1,000 for a rod and reel combo, but not extra safety gear. Below is a list of things I carry, some required, some not.

All life jackets onboard are Type I (required by state), with whistle and strobe light attached to them. I carry six adult sized life jackets on board, and three children sized ones that meet the requirements. I do not require my guests to wear life jackets, but children under the age of 12 are required to while the boat is underway.

The boat has 2 VHF radios. One is to always monitor channel 16 and the other is used for talking to my fishing buddies. In addition, there is a handheld in the Ditch Bag.

We carry the full range of commercial classified flares, medical kit, fire extinguishers, throw able flotation device, as well as having extra water stored on the boat. Two bilge pumps are equipped on the boat, one with a float switch and another with a manual switch in the event of water entering the boat below the waterline.

A Category II EPIRB is onboard as well. For whatever reason we would need to activate the EPIRB, it provides an accurate GPS fix to your exact location, broadcasted to the Coast Guard. Additionally, the boat is equipped with an Inflatable Buoyant Apparatus in the event of the boat ever sinking.

The boat is fully compliant with all Coast Guard requirements and I think that’s very important aspect. Our main goal is to have an awesome time on the water, and being prepared for all situations that might arise, helps ensure that goal.

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