Yacht Safety Equipment UK — Complete Checklist
Yacht Safety Equipment UK — Complete Checklist
There is no official legally mandated safety equipment list for recreational yachts under 13.7 metres in UK waters. That is not permission to go to sea without safety equipment — it means the responsibility falls on you as skipper to make sensible decisions about what you carry. Here is what that actually means in practice.
The Legal Minimum Under SOLAS Chapter V
SOLAS Chapter V applies to all vessels including recreational yachts and requires:
- Distress signals appropriate to the area of operation
- Navigation lights
- Sound signals
- Radar reflector or means of being detected
- Up to date charts for the planned area
That is the legal minimum. It is nowhere near sufficient for any serious coastal or offshore passage.
What Every Yacht Should Carry — The Practical List
Personal flotation:
- Lifejacket for every person on board — minimum 150N for coastal, 275N for offshore
- Safety harness and tether for offshore passages
- Lifejacket light on each jacket
- Crotch strap checked and fitted on all jackets
Distress and location:
- EPIRB — Category 1 (auto-deploy) for offshore, Category 2 for coastal
- PLB — one per crew member for offshore passages
- Handheld VHF radio — waterproof, DSC-equipped
- Fixed VHF radio with DSC connected to GPS
- Flares — minimum four red parachute rockets and four red hand flares
- Radar reflector — octahedral type mounted 4 metres above waterline
Man overboard:
- Lifebuoy with water-activated light, drogue, and floating line — mounted accessible from cockpit
- Dan buoy or MOB marker
- Throwing line — 15 metres minimum
- MOB device on each lifejacket for offshore
Fire safety:
- Minimum two fire extinguishers — one in galley area, one accessible from companionway
- Fire blanket in galley
- Engine room automatic fire suppression for offshore vessels
Survival:
- Liferaft — SOLAS or ISO specification appropriate to crew number
- Grab bag — pre-packed and accessible
- First aid kit — marine specification
Navigation:
- Charts — current and appropriate for planned area
- Compass
- GPS chartplotter
- Echo sounder
- AIS transponder — strongly recommended for UK coastal waters
Before Every Passage — The Quick Check
Lifejackets — serviced within last 12 months, bobbin in date, cylinder correctly fitted.
Flares — within expiry date.
EPIRB — self-test passed, registered, battery in date.
Liferaft — service within required interval, HRU in date.
VHF — working, DSC programmed with vessel MMSI, test call made.
Grab bag — accessible, contents checked.
FAQs
Is a liferaft legally required on a recreational yacht in the UK?
Not for vessels under 13.7 metres in recreational use. For any offshore passage beyond coastal waters — carry one. The legal minimum and the sensible minimum are not the same thing.
Do I need flares on a yacht in the UK?
SOLAS Chapter V requires distress signals appropriate to your area of operation. Flares are the most practical means of visual distress signalling at sea. Carry them and check expiry dates annually.
What is the difference between a Category 1 and Category 2 EPIRB?
Category 1 automatically deploys and activates if the vessel sinks. Category 2 requires manual deployment. For offshore passages where you may not be able to reach the EPIRB before a vessel sinks — Category 1 is the correct choice.
Always verify current requirements for your specific vessel and area of operation at gov.uk/mca. Regulations vary by vessel size and type. marinesafetyguide.com participates in affiliate programmes including Amazon Associates and may earn a small commission on purchases made through links on this site, at no extra cost to you.
