what i need in my boat??

i have heard that i need many different things to make my boat legal to run on the water.... life jackets is the only consistent answer.... but i know i need more then just that....
i've heard that length of boat makes a difference.... i have a 21ft stratos with 225hp motor(don't know if motor size makes a difference for what i need on the boat) can someone help me out and let me know what i need please?

here you go [URL="http://powerboat.about.com/od/safetyandeducation/tp/Boat-Rules-16-to-Under-26-feet.htm"]http://powerboat.about.com/od/safetyandeducation/tp/Boat-Rules-16-to-Under-26-feet.htm[/URL]

A life jacket for each person, a throw device, fire extinguisher, a oar would be good, first aid kit, your registration papers, and if you look in the fishing and boating book that the fish and wildlife put out will have all the answers. Get it at walmart and many other places.

Life jacket for each person in the boat, throwable flotation device and fire extinguisher with a readable gauge that shows it's charged are mandatory by law.

If your boat doesn't have a built in horn, you must have either a whistle or portable air horn. That's law too.

Registration papers.

Rope and oar/push pole is very wise to have.

Simple first aid kit is very wise to have too.

[QUOTE=shakey head;441443]i have heard that i need many different things to make my boat legal to run on the water.... life jackets is the only consistent answer.... but i know i need more then just that....
i've heard that length of boat makes a difference.... i have a 21ft stratos with 225hp motor(don't know if motor size makes a difference for what i need on the boat) can someone help me out and let me know what i need please?[/QUOTE]

You probably have everything leagally required on your boat already. Your boat is considered a class 1 vessel (between 16 and 26 feet). Boat registration on board and decal displayed. You need life jackets for each person on board and one trowable class IV pfd. For night operation you will need navigation lights (red/green on bow and all-around white light at stern). A fire exstiguisher rated B-1. Flame arestors and muffler on your motor are probably there unless possibly you built it yourself. Signaling device like a horn or whistle. On federal waters a flare or light for night distress and flag for daytime distress signals. Fedaral controlled waters are coastal water and the great lakes (not the ohio river or any lake in KY)so there are no federally controlled waters in KY.

That is the extent of leagally required devices. Thing you may want to carry for your peace of mind: anchor, bailing device, paddle/oar, first aid kit, Marine radio etc.

For all of the rules like what do those bouys mean, how do I use this horn, what do I do if a US naval war ship is approaching go to:

[URL]http://www.boat-ed.com/ky/course/index.htm[/URL]

this may help you out [URL]http://fw.ky.gov/pdf/2011fishguideboatingindex.pdf[/URL]
Have fun and be safe..

thanks!!! i got a few things i need to go buy... got the life jackets, throw, fire extinguisher and think i got the whistle.... but i like the idea of first aid kit dont know how many times came home with bloody shirt

thanks all! that was a big help... makes me feel a lil more comfortable when i see water patrol out now!!

Throw in a good flashlight or two and some tools you know fit the various things on your boat. I keep a waterproof box with many types of electrical connectors, fuses and eletrical tape. Look at your fuse box so you'll know the sizes of fuses your boat uses.

Don't forget the toilet paper for if the need the need arises. I keep an emergency space blanket, spare plugs and a plug wrench.