Question

Which of the following boats is required to carry a throwable PFD?

1) Motorboats less than 16 feet in length
2) Sailboats less than 26 feet in length
3) Personal watercraft (PWC)
4) All of the above

Answer 1

None of the boats listed (motorboats less than 16 feet, sailboats less than 26 feet, and personal watercraft) are required to carry a throwable PFD as per the USCG regulations, as they fall below the length requirement for the mandatory carriage of a throwable PFD.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks which boats are required to carry a throwable Personal Flotation Device (PFD). According to the United States Coast Guard (USCG) regulations, all recreational vessels 16 feet in length or longer must carry at least one USCG-approved throwable PFD, also known as a Type IV PFD. Although the regulations do not specifically mention personal watercraft (PWC), they do specify requirements for motorboats and sailboats. Considering the choices provided:

• Motorboats less than 16 feet in length are not required to carry a throwable PFD.
• Sailboats less than 26 feet in length are also not required to carry a throwable PFD unless they are over 16 feet in length.
• Personal watercraft, while having various safety regulations, do not generally have a requirement for a throwable PFD.

Therefore, the answer to the question is none of the above; as none of these boat types are required to carry a throwable PFD according to the USCG regulations presented. The boat lengths specified in the question all fall below the length requirement for the mandatory carriage of a throwable PFD.