BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide

Mandatory safety equipment on board a boat

Lifejackets, flares, fire extinguisher and signalling gear: what the operator must supply and what you must check before setting off on a boat rental.

A rental boat must leave with safety gear matching its category and navigation area. In practice the operator supplies it and remains responsible for it, but it is up to you to check it is complete, accessible and in good order before casting off. A tour of the essentials will save you from discovering a gap once you are out at sea.

What the operator must supply

The professional hands over a boat equipped for the intended navigation category: lifejackets, light-signalling devices, firefighting means, bailer or bilge pump, ground tackle, a compass, and depending on distance from the coast, a liferaft and distress signals. Ask where everything is stowed and have the workings of each item explained during the handover, actually opening the lockers rather than trusting a list.

Lifejackets and buoyancy aids

Count one lifejacket per person aboard, in the right size and matched to weight, including children, whose models are specific and cannot be improvised. Check the straps, buckles and, for inflatable jackets, the gas cylinder and the firing head. Locate them at departure and show them to the whole crew so everyone knows where to grab one and how to put it on if needed, without searching in a hurry.

Flares, extinguisher and signalling

Check the hand flares and smoke signals: present, in the right number and, above all, in date, as they expire and become unusable. The fire extinguisher must be accessible, pressurised and serviced, not wedged at the back of a locker. Add useful personal signalling means: a whistle, a waterproof torch, a signal mirror, and a man-overboard device if the trip warrants it. VHF and safety at sea are part of the same overall reflex.

Match it to the trip and crew

The right kit also depends on who comes aboard and the trip planned. With children or people uneasy at sea, have them wear the lifejacket from the moment they step on, without waiting. For navigation that ventures a little farther from the coast, check that the liferaft and distress signals match the area covered. A simple crew briefing, showing the lifejackets, the extinguisher and the emergency exit, is worth all the equipment in the world if it otherwise stays unused on the day you must act. When in doubt about an item, ask the operator to demonstrate it before you leave the dock.

Check before you leave

Do not sign the departure form before opening the lockers: gear genuinely present, expired items replaced, everything accessible and understood by the crew. Fold this check into your departure checklist so nothing is missed in the morning rush. On Boat-Comparator, compare offers and favour operators whose safety equipment is clearly presented and up to date.

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