46 CFR 108.565: Stowage of rescue boats
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section sets stowage rules for rescue boats. Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes and be in a position suitable for launching and recovery. It also covers battery recharging and inflated boats.
What it says
Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.
46 CFR 108.565(a)(1)“Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.”
Each rescue boat must be in a position suitable for launching and recovery.
46 CFR 108.565(a)(2)“Each rescue boat must be in a position suitable for launching and recovery.”
Each rescue boat must be stowed so that neither it nor its stowage arrangements interfere with the operation of any survival craft at any other launching station.
46 CFR 108.565(a)(3)“neither the rescue boat nor its stowage arrangements will interfere with the operation of any survival craft at any other launching station”
Each rescue boat that is also a lifeboat must comply with § 108.530.
46 CFR 108.565(a)(4)“Each rescue boat that is also a lifeboat, must be in compliance with § 108.530.”
Each rescue boat must have a means for recharging its batteries from the unit's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.
46 CFR 108.565(b)“Each rescue boat must be provided a means for recharging the rescue boat batteries from the unit's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.”
Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.
46 CFR 108.565(c)“Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.”
Common questions
How quickly must a rescue boat be ready to launch?
Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.
“Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.”
Must rescue boat batteries be rechargeable from the unit's power?
Yes. Each rescue boat must have a means for recharging its batteries from the unit's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.
“Each rescue boat must be provided a means for recharging the rescue boat batteries from the unit's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.”
Can an inflated rescue boat be stored deflated?
No. Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.
“Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.”
The text of 46 CFR 108.565
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Stowage of rescue boats
(a) Rescue boats must be stowed as follows:
(1) Each rescue boat must be ready for launching in not more than 5 minutes.
(2) Each rescue boat must be in a position suitable for launching and recovery.
(3) Each rescue boat must be stowed in a way that neither the rescue boat nor its stowage arrangements will interfere with the operation of any survival craft at any other launching station.
(4) Each rescue boat that is also a lifeboat, must be in compliance with § 108.530.
(b) Each rescue boat must be provided a means for recharging the rescue boat batteries from the unit's power supply at a supply voltage not exceeding 50 volts.
(c) Each inflated rescue boat must be kept fully inflated at all times.
Sections it refers to
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 April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.