Safety equipment on board – what the law requires and what you should carry

Short answer

For an ordinary pleasure boat in Sweden there is no long list of mandatory equipment. The requirements that apply come mainly from the collision regulations: the boat must be able to show the correct navigation lights when used in darkness or poor visibility, and have a means of making a sound signal. Everything else – life jackets, fire extinguishers, anchor, bilge pump – is recommended by Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency). But that is exactly the equipment that decides how an accident ends.

What the law requires

• Navigation lights: under the collision regulations (COLREG), the boat must show the prescribed lights between sunset and sunrise and in restricted visibility. Which lights apply depends on length and whether the boat is under power or sail.
• Sound signals: boats under 12 metres must carry some means of making an efficient sound signal. From 12 metres a whistle (horn) is required, and from 20 metres a bell as well.
• Qualifications: according to Transportstyrelsen, boats larger than 12 × 4 metres require a skepparexamen, kustskepparexamen or equivalent. Smaller boats require no certificate.
• Sjötrafikförordningen (the Swedish maritime traffic ordinance) contains additional Swedish rules, including speed limits and local traffic regulations.

Checklist – recommended equipment

Life jacket – the most important item

Transportstyrelsen (the Swedish Transport Agency) compares the life jacket to a seat belt: it should be worn, not just carried on board. The life jacket must be CE marked and suited to the wearer's weight. Read more in our guide to life jackets.

Equipment by type of trip

What you need grows with the distance from shore and with the water temperature. This is a reasonable starting point:

• Day trip in the archipelago: life jackets, phone in a waterproof case, bilge pump, anchor, paddle and a first aid kit. Tell someone ashore where you're going.
• Evening trips or longer passages: working navigation lights, a torch, paper charts as a backup to the chartplotter, VHF radio and extra fuel.
• Open water and overnight stays: jackstays and attachment points on deck, a boarding ladder that can be lowered from the water, a fire blanket in the galley, a gas alarm and a spares kit with impeller, filters and belts for the engine.

Also make sure the equipment is within reach. A fire extinguisher at the back of a locker under the fenders is no help when there's a fire. Place extinguishers near the exit and the engine compartment, and show everyone on board where the life jackets, distress flares and first aid kit are before you cast off. Go through how to recover someone who has fallen overboard. It's harder than most people think, especially on a boat with high freeboard.

Check before the season

1. Test the navigation lights and horn.
2. Check the fire extinguisher's pressure and that it's securely mounted.
3. Replace the inflation cartridge on inflatable life jackets at the manufacturer's interval.
4. Test the bilge pump and float switch.
5. Go through your engine spares – look up your engine under Engines & manuals and see spare parts.

Also go through our spring commissioning checklist before launching.

Frequently asked questions