The equipment compulsory for recreational boats is regulated by the Ministry of Development in Spain. This governmental body regulates the safety equipment that must carry on board all recreational vessels to prevent fires and other accidents.
In summary, we could say that the smaller our vessel is closer to the coast we sail, and the less equipment we need. And the other way around, the bigger our ship is, we will have authorization to sail far from the coast, and we will need to have more equipment. According to the ministerial order, the equipment for recreational boats is mandatory for all boats that are registered. Therefore, it does not include those vessels that are exempt from registration. The equipment for sports boats includes safety equipment, rescue, fire, etc.
Areas and equipment for sports boats
To know the equipment for mandatory recreational boats, we must first know which are the navigation areas according to the criterion of the ministerial order. For this we can follow this table:
Zone 1: Oceanic navigation. Distance to the coast unlimited.
Zone 2: Navigation on the high seas. Distance to the coast up to 60 miles.
Zone 3: Navigation on the high seas. Distance to the coast up to 25 miles.
Zone 4: Navigation in coastal waters. Distance to the coast up to 12 miles.
Zone 5: Navigation in coastal waters. Distance to the coast up to 5 miles.
Zone 6: Navigation in coastal waters. Distance to the coast up to 2 miles.
Zone 7: Navigation in protected waters.
To know in which areas we are authorized to sail we have to look at the CE design plate of our vessel. If our boat belongs to Category A we can navigate in all areas. Category B vessels authorize navigation in zones 2 through 7. Category C vessels allow navigation from zone 4 to zone 7, while those in category D only allow navigation in zone 7, it is say, in protected areas.
Equipment list for oceanic vessels
The equipment for recreational boats in Zone 1 is the most complete. These are boats prepared for oceanic navigation at an unlimited distance from the coast, so they need to be equipped with safety equipment such as raft, hoops and life jackets, rockets, flares and other light signals. It is also necessary to bring nautical material such as compass, sextant, letters and nautical books, binoculars, horns, barometer, bell, flags, flashlights, etc. It is also necessary to carry anchoring equipment, first aid kit, an emergency tiller, bilge pumps, fire-fighting equipment and complete radio equipment.
The equipment for recreational boats of Zone 2 is practically the same as that of Zone 1. It needs almost the same, but in the case of certain equipment, it is required to be in smaller quantities. For example, a life raft is needed as in Zone 1, but instead of two rings only one is needed. The nautical, rescue, extinction, radiocommunication and security material is also the same as for Zone 1.
For Zone 3, the equipment for recreational boats is already significantly lower. We will continue to need a life raft, a ring, safety vests, rockets and flares, as well as government compass, binoculars, letters and books, extinguishing material, but for example, because we will sail less miles from the coast we will require a team radiocommunications much simpler than what is needed for boats in Zone 1. A VHF VHF radiotelephone will be more than enough.
Less distance from the coastline, less mandatory equipment
In Zone 4, the equipment for recreational boats is already greatly reduced. For example, when sailing so close to the coastline, it is no longer mandatory that we have a life raft. However, the obligation to carry vests, rings, flares, rockets and other signals, as well as radio communication equipment is maintained. In Zone 5, the big difference is that in addition to not needing a life raft, we do not need radio communication equipment either. In addition, it is only mandatory that we carry life vests and three flares. As we can see, the list of mandatory material is greatly reduced.
In Zone 6, the equipment for mandatory sports boats is really small. As in the rest of the areas, only life jackets, three flares, a horn, an anchoring equipment, a spare rod, an oar, a repair kit in the case of a pneumatic boat, and safety equipment are required. extinction. In zone 7 we will only need vests as a safety element, given the special nature of these boats for navigation in protected waters.
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