Required Safety Equipment - Monterey 180 FS Owner's Manual

Insurance
You must get insurance before operating your new boat. Loss by fire, theft
or other causes, or liability protection against accidents is a must for
responsible boaters. The boat owner is legally responsible for any damage
or injury caused when he, or someone else operating the boat, is involved
in an accident. Many states have laws detailing minimum insurance needs.
Your insurance agent or your dealer may be able to supply you with more
information.

REQUIRED SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Your boat has been equipped at the factory with most federally required
Class 1 [4.8 m (16 ft.) to less than 7.9 m (26 ft.)] safety equipment for
inland waters.
Many state equipment requirements go beyond Coast Guard
requirements. Contact your state boating office for further
information.
Equipment requirements for coastal and inland waters differ.
Check with local authorities or the Coast Guard for further
information about coastal water requirements.
Personal Floatation Devices
Federal law also requires at least one Type I, II, III or V Personal Floatation
Device (PFD) for each person on board or being towed, and at least one
Type IV throwable PFD in the boat. As the owner, it is your responsibility
to obtain PFDs and other mandatory safety equipment not provided
by the boat manufacturer, and to ensure all equipment is kept in good,
serviceable condition.
PFDs are intended to help save lives. Therefore, you and your passengers
should wear a PFD whenever boating. It is especially important that
children and non-swimmers wear a PFD at all times. Make certain all
passengers know how to put on and properly adjust their PFDs. Also,
selecting the proper type PFD for your kind of outing helps ensure your time
on the water can be the safest possible. There are four types of PFDs to
wear and one type used for throwing in emergency situations.
Boating Safety
NOTICE
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