Page 5 - Mid America Boating - August 2022 issue

Three late summer safety reminders you need to check…

AUGUST 2022 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] 4
With a reminder for boaters to champion enforce fi re extinguishers having a 12-year expiration date from the date of
recreational boating safety all summer long, manufacture. Additionally, while the new regulation does not change the
the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety type, quantity, or requirement for Coast Guard-approved fi re extinguishers
and Clean Water suggests that boat owners aboard, it does specify the minimum Underwriter Laboratory (UL) classifi -
need to know about three fairly recent U.S. cation of extinguishers to be carried aboard certain vessels – depending on
Coast Guard regulations that have changed, the boat’s model year.
what’s needed to be carried aboard, and how Vessels on the water today that are less than 26 feet and model year 2017 or
a vessel is to be operated at higher speeds. older may continue to carry older, dated or undated “B-I” or “B-II” disposable
1. Fire extinguishers: As of April 20, the extinguishers. However, when they are no longer serviceable or have reached
USCG enacted a regulation allowing them to 12 years of age since manufacture, they must be replaced with newer class
“5-B” or greater extinguishers. Boats less than 26 feet and 2018 model year or
newer must carry unexpired “5-B,” “10-B” or “20-B” fi re extinguishers. Having
older “B-I” and “B-II” types do not meet the new carriage requirements.
2. Engine cutoff switch: As of April 1 last year, boat operators have been
required to use either a helm or outboard lanyard or wireless engine cutoff
switch (ECOS) on certain vessels less than 26 feet when traveling on plane or
above displacement speed. These vessels include (1) boats that have a func-
tioning engine cutoff device installed at the helm or on an outboard engine
or have wireless ECOS, or (2) boats manufactured beginning January 2020.
Exceptions to the ECOS requirement include if the main helm of the
vessel is in an enclosed cabin or the vessel is not operating on plane or
at displacement speed. Low-speed activities such as fi shing or docking
do not require use of an ECOS. The vessel operator is also exempt if the
boat’s motor produces less than 115 lbs. of static thrust – or about the size
of a 2-hp engine.
3. Electronic visual distress signals (eVDSD): Solving the disposal
problem of expired pyrotechnic fl ares, newer electronic visual distress signal
devices (eVDSD) use either a white or combination of orange-red/cyan LED
lights with infrared (for rescuers with night vision) and are now U.S. Coast
Guard-approved. However, for daytime distress situations you’ll still need to
Above: Engine cutoff switches (ECOS) are often activat- carry aboard an orange distress fl ag to avoid carrying pyrotechnic devices.
ed by a lanyard connected to the operator that, when eVDSD prices start at about $100 for the white light version.
pulled, stops the boat’s engine. Also keep in mind every visual distress signal requires regular inspec-
tion and maintenance. Batteries are an eVDSD’s potential Achilles heel, so
Right: Boat fi re extinguishers expiration date can be two replace them every season. Old eVDSD batteries can be cycled into a fl ash-
or four digits — if it is two, as in 08, that means 2008. light at home – where your life potentially is not at stake. MAB

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