Is Your Sailboat Legal for the Season?

If you have a new sailboat or haven't checked your boat's legal requirements lately, it's a good idea to start the boating season with a review of Coast Guard-required equipment. Have your flares expired? Do you know how many and what type you need? Can you meet the sound signal requirement for a boat or your size? Here's a quick list to check the different federal requirements for sailboats of all sizes, with or without an engine. Don't take the chance of being inspected by the Coast Guard and cited for not being in compliance.