33 CFR 175.320: Fire extinguishers required on recreational vessels
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets the minimum fire extinguishing equipment for recreational vessels. Vessels 65 feet or less in length follow table 1, and vessels more than 65 feet in length follow table 4 and add machinery space equipment. Extinguishers with larger ratings or multiple letter designations may be used.
Applies toRecreational vessels, divided into those 65 feet or less in length and those more than 65 feet in length.
What it says
A recreational vessel 65 feet or less in length must carry at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers set forth in table 1 to § 175.320(a)(1).
33 CFR 175.320(a)(1)“A recreational vessel 65 feet or less in length must carry at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers set forth in table 1 to § 175.320(a)(1).”
A vessel less than 26 feet in length that is propelled by an outboard motor need not carry portable fire extinguishers if its construction will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors.
33 CFR 175.320(a)(1)“A vessel less than 26 feet in length, propelled by an outboard motor, is not required to carry portable fire extinguishers if the construction of the vessel will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors.”
A recreational vessel more than 65 feet in length must carry at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers specified for its tonnage in table 4 to § 175.320(b)(1).
33 CFR 175.320(b)(1)“A recreational vessel more than 65 feet in length must carry at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers specified for its tonnage as set forth in table 4 to § 175.320(b)(1).”
In the machinery space, one 20-B fire extinguisher must be carried for each 1,000 brake horsepower of the main engines or fraction, but no more than six such extinguishers are required.
33 CFR 175.320(b)(2)(i)“One 20-B fire extinguisher must be carried for each 1,000 brake horsepower of the main engines or fraction. However, not more than six such extinguishers are required to be carried.”
On recreational vessels of more than 300 gross tons, the machinery space must have either one 160-B semi-portable fire extinguishing system or a fixed fire extinguishing system.
33 CFR 175.320(b)(2)(ii)“On recreational vessels of more than 300 gross tons, either one 160-B semi-portable fire extinguishing system must be fitted, or alternatively, a fixed fire extinguishing system must be fitted in the machinery space.”
The frame or support of each required 160-B semi-portable fire extinguisher must be welded or otherwise permanently attached to a bulkhead or deck.
33 CFR 175.320(b)(3)“The frame or support of each 160-B semi-portable fire extinguisher required by paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section must be welded or otherwise permanently attached to a bulkhead or deck.”
Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations may be used to meet the requirements of table 1 and table 4.
33 CFR 175.320(c)“Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations may be used to meet the requirements of table 1 to § 175.320(a)(1) and table 4 to § 175.320(b)(1).”
Common questions
Do I need a fire extinguisher on an outboard boat under 26 feet?
Not if the vessel's construction will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors. Otherwise the vessel must carry the number set in table 1.
“A vessel less than 26 feet in length, propelled by an outboard motor, is not required to carry portable fire extinguishers if the construction of the vessel will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors.”
Can one larger fire extinguisher replace two 5-B extinguishers?
Yes. The note to table 1 says one 20-B portable fire extinguisher may be substituted for two 5-B portable fire extinguishers.
“One 20-B portable fire extinguisher may be substituted for two 5-B portable fire extinguishers.”
Must a wheeled semi-portable fire extinguisher be secured?
Yes. If an approved semi-portable extinguisher has wheels, it must be securely stowed when not in use so it cannot roll out of control under heavy sea conditions.
“If an approved semi-portable fire extinguisher has wheels, it must be securely stowed when not in use to prevent it from rolling out of control under heavy sea conditions.”
Do bait wells or ice chests require a fire extinguisher?
No. Table 3 lists bait wells and ice chests among conditions that do not, in themselves, require that fire extinguishers be carried.
“Figure 2 to § 175.320(a)(2) illustrates conditions, identified by table 3 to § 175.320(a)(2), that do not, in themselves, require that fire extinguishers be carried.”
The text of 33 CFR 175.320
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of March 31, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Fire extinguishing equipment required
(a) Recreational vessels 65 feet or less in length. (1) A recreational vessel 65 feet or less in length must carry at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers set forth in table 1 to § 175.320(a)(1). A vessel less than 26 feet in length, propelled by an outboard motor, is not required to carry portable fire extinguishers if the construction of the vessel will not permit the entrapment of explosive or flammable gases or vapors.
Table 1 to § 175.320(a)(1) Length (feet) Minimum number of 5-B portablefire extinguishers required 1 If no fixed fireextinguishingsystem inmachinery space If fixed fireextinguishingsystem inmachinery space Under 16 1 0 16 or more, but less than 26 1 0 26 or more, but less than 40 2 1 40 or more, but not more than 65 3 2 1 One 20-B portable fire extinguisher may be substituted for two 5-B portable fire extinguishers.
(2) Figure 1 to § 175.320(a)(2) illustrates the conditions, identified by table 2 to § 175.320(a)(2), under which fire extinguishers are required to be carried on board. Figure 2 to § 175.320(a)(2) illustrates conditions, identified by table 3 to § 175.320(a)(2), that do not, in themselves, require that fire extinguishers be carried.
Table 2 to § 175.320(a)(2) Location identifiedin Figure1 to § 175.320(a)(2) Condition requiring fire extinguishers 1 Closed compartment under thwarts and seats wherein portable fuel tanks may be stored. 2 Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or which are not completely filled with flotation material. 3 Closed living spaces. 4 Closed stowage compartments in which combustible or flammable materials are stowed. 5 Permanently installed fuel tanks.
Table 3 to § 175.320(a)(2) Location identified in Figure 2to § 175.320(a)(2) Conditions that do not in themselves require fire extinguishers 1 Bait wells. 2 Glove compartments. 3 Buoyant flotation material. 4 Open slatted flooring. 5 Ice chests.
(b) Recreational vessels more than 65 feet in length. (1) A recreational vessel more than 65 feet in length must carry at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers specified for its tonnage as set forth in table 4 to § 175.320(b)(1).
Table 4 to § 175.320(b)(1) Gross tonnage— Minimumnumber of20-B portablefireextinguishers More than Not more than 50 1 50 100 2 100 500 3 500 1,000 6 1,000 8
(2) In addition to the portable fire extinguishers required by table 4 to § 175.320(b)(1), the following fire extinguishing equipment must be fitted in the machinery space:
(i) One 20-B fire extinguisher must be carried for each 1,000 brake horsepower of the main engines or fraction. However, not more than six such extinguishers are required to be carried.
(ii) On recreational vessels of more than 300 gross tons, either one 160-B semi-portable fire extinguishing system must be fitted, or alternatively, a fixed fire extinguishing system must be fitted in the machinery space.
(3) The frame or support of each 160-B semi-portable fire extinguisher required by paragraph (b)(2)(ii) of this section must be welded or otherwise permanently attached to a bulkhead or deck.
(4) If an approved semi-portable fire extinguisher has wheels, it must be securely stowed when not in use to prevent it from rolling out of control under heavy sea conditions.
(c) Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations. Extinguishers with larger numerical ratings or multiple letter designations may be used to meet the requirements of table 1 to § 175.320(a)(1) and table 4 to § 175.320(b)(1).
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The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of March 31, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.