Recreational vessels safety equipment and tips

A kitesurfer on the water is considered to be vessel, and must adhere to all rules and regulations of a vessel.

Paddle craft are vessels such as canoes, kayaks, row boats, surf skis and stand up paddle boards.

Towed water sports include activities such as waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing and kneeboarding.

Towed inflatable items being tend to pull to the outside of turns as they have little grip on the water, resulting in high speeds and little directional control during turns.

Many people on one inflatable devices have an increased risk of injury, due to collisions between themselves.

When going out on a boat, ensure you well prepared to keep you and any other passengers safe.

Find further information and educational videos at Safe Transport Victoria - Recreational boating.

Jet Skis and WaveRunners are brands of personal watercrafts (PWC).

They are more powerful and manoeuvrable than traditional powerboats, and must be operated within the same rules relating to powerboats.

• Assess the risks associated with operating a PWC before you head out, and be aware of the changing nature of water.
• PWCs can accelerate very quickly and can be noisy. Be mindful of this when others are on or in the water, or on the beach.
• Understand your operating limitations in different situations. The operators of other vessels may not be familiar with PWCs and how quickly you can approach, pass, turn and move away. You may need to adjust your riding techniques so that you don’t alarm other operators.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and maintenance schedule. Joining a PWC riders club or similar organisation will improve your skills, knowledge and experience.

Any person on, or being towed by, a PWC must wear an approved life jacket type 1, 2 or 3 while underway.

On a PWC:

• carry a waterproof, buoyant torch at all times to signal the shore or other vessels if you encounter difficulties
• show the same lights that are required of a powerboat when operating at night. Note that a mast may be required for an all-round white light to ensure the occupant does not obscure the beam.
• if going more than two nautical miles offshore in coastal waters, carry an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)
• use navigation lights between sunset and sunrise, and in times of restricted visibility.

All operators are advised to carry a means of raising an alarm. Regardless of how far you are going out, we recommend carrying a personal locator beacon (PLB).

It is illegal in Victoria for a PWC operator or owner to allow or cause a PWC to be used unless it is registered.

The PWC must be in good working order with and engine kill switches operable. Maintain your PWC after each trip and have it regularly serviced.

The registration label must be in a prominent position on the outside or upper part of the vessel.

The identification mark assigned for your Victorian Registered PWC must painted or displayed in appropriate characters:

• (a) on each side of the hull of the vessel
• (b) forward of the beam
• (c) so that the highest part of each digit commences at a point no more than 25 mm below the gunwale.

‘Appropriate’ means characters that are:

• (a) no less than 100 mm high
• (b) in proportionate breadth, and
• (c) coloured in contrast to the surface on which they are displayed.

It is illegal for you to act as the master of a registered vessel on Victorian waters if the identification mark is not displayed on your PWC.

These identification marks must be conspicuous and distinguishable from any other decorations on your PWC.

Interstate registered vessels must display registration numbers or marks as required by the relevant State or Territory.

Before you go out on your vessel, check that you and all others on board are prepared.

• Check your vessel is fit-for-purpose and all lights, electrics, ropes etc are well maintained.
• Ensure you are carrying the required safety equipment.
• Check the weather and tides.
• Familiarise yourself with the waterway rules.
• Let someone know before you go.

Any vessel that uses an engine for propulsion must be seaworthy and registered with VicRoads. This includes boats and jet-skis.

The trailer used to tow your vessel will need to be registered separately. Your registration must be renewed with VicRoads every 12 months.

Find out more at Safe Transport Victoria - Marine licence and registration.

Regular maintenance of your vessel is essential to preventing fire on your boat.

Ski boats with inboard petrol powered engines are most vulnerable to fire risk.

Older vessels where electrical and automotive components have aged and become worn are also commonly involved in fire related incidents.

Converted car engines or non-marinised engines installed in boats create a higher risk of fire or explosion. This is common when owners have modified their boat themselves or used unqualified technicians to do the work.

Boats that spend long periods of time out of the water need to be carefully checked for fire hazards before being used for the first time in the season.

You must know how to safely handle your vessel in all situations. You must also understand the maximum load your vessel can safely carry.

Before you go out on your vessel:

• Check the weather forecasts. Consider postponing your trip if the weather is unfavourable and avoid areas exposed to high wind and waves.
• Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return.
• Ensure your boat is properly maintained, the battery is fully charged and you have enough fuel on board.
• Seek up-to-date local knowledge and keep a map of the are you will be navigating in.
• Don’t drink alcohol before or while operating your vessel.

When operating your vessel, keep in mind the following tips:

• On inland waterways, travel anticlockwise in relation to the approximate centre of the waterway.
• Operate to the right in channels and narrow stretches of water.
• Keep clear of anchored or moored vessels.
• Slow down around blind corners, and stop if your vision is impaired by the sun or water spray.
• Swimmers may be hidden from view by waves and swell.

All vessels must travel at a safe speed, and obey buoys, beacons and signs marking waterway zones, channels and speed limits.

The master of a PWC or any vessel must monitor their speed to ensure that a safe and lawful speed is being maintained.

On all Victorian waters a five knot speed limit applies to all operators within:

• 50 m of a person, for example a swimmer
• 50 m of another vessel
• 100 m of a vessel or buoy on which a 'diver below' signal corresponding to the International Code Flag 'A' is displayed – a white/blue flag.

Find more information on vessel speed and distance at Safe Transport Victoria.

Five knots is equivalent to 8-9 km/h. It takes 20 seconds to travel 50 m and 80 seconds to travel 200 m.

Stunts and manoeuvres must be done well away from other people, other vessels and the shore.

PWCs are subject to ‘hoon’ legislation. Owners and/or operators can be prosecuted for dangerous operating, and PWCs can be seized, impounded and embargoed.

When operating on coastal and enclosed waters, recreational vessels must carry:

• two hand-held red distress flares, and
• two hand-held orange smoke signal flares.

Vessels operating on enclosed waters can carry a distress beacon (EPIRB or PLB) or a VHF Marine radio in place of pyrotechnic distress flares.

Boaters can still carry flares for their own sense of safety.

Find out more about flares and the disposal of expired flares.

In accordance with the Marine Safety Regulations, recreational vessels must carry fire protection equipment.

The types of life jacket you must carry and wear depend on the type of waterway you are operating on.

Adhere to life jacket laws by ensuring:

• you are wearing the correct life jacket type at all times
• your life jacket meets the required standards
• you have enough life jackets for everyone on board, and they are correctly maintained.

Read more Safe Transport Victoria.

• Australian Maritime Safety Authority(opens in a new window)
• Transport Safety Victoria(opens in a new window)
• Emergency Management Victoria(opens in a new window)
• Parks Victoria(opens in a new window)
• Victorian Fisheries(opens in a new window)
• Fire Rescue Victoria(opens in a new window)
• CFA(opens in a new window)
• Defence Victoria(opens in a new window)
• VicRoads - Marine licences(opens in a new window)
• Department of Justice(opens in a new window)
• Bureau of Meteorology(opens in a new window)

• Victoria Volunteer Coast Guard(opens in a new window)
• Victoria State Emergency Service (SES)
• Life Saving Victoria(opens in a new window)
• Mornington Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR)(opens in a new window)
• Southern Peninsula Rescue(opens in a new window)
• Coast Watch Ocean Grove

• Port of Melbourne(opens in a new window)
• Geelong Port(opens in a new window)
• Port of Hastings(opens in a new window)
• Port of Portland(opens in a new window)
• Gippsland Ports(opens in a new window)

• Maritime Safety - Boating VIC
• Bureau of Meteorology Marine Victoria(opens in a new window)
• Boating and Swimming Zones - Parks Victoria(opens in a new window)
• Bureau of Meteorology - Victorian Tide Tables
• Gippsland Ports - Crossing bars(opens in a new window)