DOT Requirements for our boats

The safety items listed are required by law. The skipper of the vessel can be fined for each offense, so fines add up quickly. A $200.00 fine per offense, can be issued by city or provincial police.

The boats used by the Ottawa Sailing School for Basic Cruising are either 23' Sonars, 22' Tanzers, or 24' Sharks. In all cases, they qualify as "Pleasure craft greater than 6 m in length but no greater than 8 m in length".

There are 10 items requires for our boats. I've listed them using an mnemonic to help you remember the 10 items (FFFLLLARES, pronounced flares):

F - Flares - 6 Canadian approved flares that have not expired! Must be type A, B, or C. Not required when

F - Flash light - 1 Flash light that works.

F - Fire extinguisher - Type 5BC fire extinguisher must be carried if you have an engine. In addition, if you have a fuel burning appliance (stove, heater, BBQ, etc), you must carry a second 5BC fire extinguisher.

L - Life jackets - One approved life jacket for each person. This life jacket must be in good condition and must fit!

L - Line - 15 m of bouyant heaving line.

L - Lights - Navigation lights if the boat is to be opperated between dusk and dawn.

A - Anchor - An anchor with at least 15 m of cable or rope, or a manual propelling device (paddle)

R - Reboarding device

E - Extract - A device to extract water -- that is, a bailer, a bucket, or water pump.

S - Sound signal - A device to make a sound signal.

Another way to remember the list is based upon types of things that could go wrong.

ACK, we're sinking

• Lifejacket
• Flares

ACK, someone fell overboard:

• Bouyant heaving line
• Reboarding device

Boy it's foggy out:

• Flashlight
• Sound signal
• Navigation lights

Fire, fire, fire:

• fire extinguisher

My engine stopped and the rapids are fast approaching:

• Anchor or paddle
  

Note: For the test you need to both list the items and DESCRIBE them. For example, you can not just say lifejackets. You must also say that the lifejackets must be APPROVED, must FIT, and there must be ONE FOR EACH PERSON on board.