What safety equipment do I need to carry on a recreational boat?
There’s no single national list: what you must carry depends on your state and the water you’re in (enclosed/smooth vs open/coastal), and it scales with vessel size.
The shape is similar: enclosed/smooth waters call for the basics (lifejackets, a sound signal and a torch among them), and open/coastal waters add the offshore kit: distress flares (Victoria requires them on enclosed waters too), an EPIRB beyond about 2 nm, and in NSW a marine radio, a V-sheet, a chart and compass. But the exact list differs by state: WA and Queensland list the anchor and bailer as recommended rather than mandatory, and WA also lists the fire extinguisher and bilge pump as recommended only; NSW requires an anchor and bailer, but a bilge pump only where the bilge is covered, and a fire extinguisher only on some boats, for example those with an electric-start engine or a fuel stove.
Because it’s state- and water-specific, the honest answer is to scope it to your boat, which is what the Bosun does: read your state’s rule, your operating area and your vessel, and give you the exact checklist.
The Bosun reads your state’s authority and scopes the list to your water type and vessel, then, on a real boat, checks it against what you actually carry and flags the earliest-expiring item.
General information for Australian operators, current as of 2026-10-11. Rules change and recreational rules vary by state. Always confirm against the source(s) linked above (your AMSA, Australian Sailing or state maritime authority). This is not legal advice.