Perhaps you’re a new boat owner kitting out your craft for the first time or have been sailing for years and wish to update your marine equipment. Whatever situation you’re in, safety is paramount. You’ll want to avoid setting sail without vital, potentially life-saving supplies.

With that in mind, we’ve created the following guide to the essential safety equipment and some of the most useful items to keep on board your boat, focusing on reliable, modern marine safety products.

Lifejackets and a Liferaft

There’s no doubt that lifejackets can be lifelines for boat owners and everyone who sails with them. A lifejacket gives you peace of mind and may be invaluable if you fall overboard, particularly as it can turn you over so your face isn’t underwater.

For coastal and inshore sailing, a buoyancy level of around 150N is likely to be suitable – the Kru Sport 170 Lifejacket is a particularly high-performance option. For offshore sailing, as well as people who are solidly-built or wear heavy gear, the enhanced buoyancy of the Spinlock Deckvest 6D Lifejacket could be ideal

If you have a sailing boat, look for lifejackets with harnesses enabling the wearers to clip on a safety line. (A harness isn’t usually required when wearing a lifejacket on a motorboat.)

Liferafts are another important consideration – they can save and protect sailors forced to abandon their vessels. The new Ocean Safety Ocean Regatta Liferaft won’t add bulk to your boat and carries up to eight people.

Distress Flares

Equipping your boat with marine flares means you’ll have an effective way to signal to others that you’re in distress, should the need arise. You may be rescued faster as a result.

Did you know that in addition to conventional pyrotechnic flares, you can also alert search and rescue services and other sailors to your position with modern electronic flares? Take the impressive Ocean Signal EDF1 Electronic Distress LED Flare, for example – it boasts a seven-mile range and 360-degree visibility, plus the battery lasts for up to six hours.  

Fire Extinguishers

Boats carry flammable items such as fuel and have flammable structural elements. To minimise the risk of a fire taking hold, it’s essential to mount fire extinguishers in strategic, highly visible positions (for example, by the door to the deck and cabin doors). You and the people you sail with need to be familiar with the manufacturer’s usage instructions.

Fire Safety Sticks are popular with YouBoat customers – these extinguishing sticks weigh less than traditional extinguishers and can operate for longer. For vessels with an engine compartment, we recommend the Seafire FG 150 Automatic Fire Extinguisher, which self-operates following the detection of heat.

Having a fire blanket available in the galley is another sensible precaution.

First Aid Kit and Manual

It’s sensible for sailors to complete first aid training in case anyone on board has an accident or other medical issue, big or small. In a crisis, your skills could make all the difference while you wait for emergency services. The Royal Yachting Association’s First Aid course, which ‘is aimed at anyone who goes afloat’, covers drowning, hypothermia, seasickness and more.

If you need to put your training into practice, you’ll want to have a First Aid Kit suitable for boating to hand (including such essential items as plasters, bandages, scissors, antiseptic spray and burn gel), in addition to a First Aid Manual. We supply the latest, St. John Ambulance-endorsed edition. It includes treatment advice for over 100 conditions.

Extra Food and Drinking Water

If you run into trouble out on the water, the last thing you want is to run out of food and drink. It’s vital to stay well hydrated, keep a clear head and maintain your energy levels.

We suggest keeping spare food rations plus plenty of extra drinking water and other beverages on board. Consider how long it may take emergency services to reach you (could it be hours or days?), and let that guide you when deciding how many additional food and beverage items to stow away. ‘Survival’ food bars are useful: they’re nutritious and often have shelf lives of several years.

Marine Safety Equipment Supplies and Expert Advice from YouBoat

As a leading British chandlery, YouBoat offers a wide selection of marine safety equipment, ranging from beacons to buoyancy aids, at highly competitive prices. Simply order online at YouBoatMarine.com or visit our 4,000 sq. ft. Portsmouth Harbour shop.

If you have any questions about our products or need advice when deciding what safety equipment is best for your boat, feel free to contact YouBoat.

We’re here to help you enjoy exhilarating – and most of all, safe – sailing trips.