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 consistent: enclosed/smooth waters call for the basics (lifejackets, anchor, bailer, fire extinguisher, sound signal, torch), and open/coastal waters add the offshore kit: distress flares, an EPIRB, a marine radio, a V-sheet, a chart and compass. But the exact list differs by state: WA, for instance, has dropped the fire extinguisher, anchor, bilge pump and bailer from its mandatory list (recommended only), where NSW still requires them.
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 May 2026. 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.