What equipment do you need for electric boating in the UK on our inland waterways ?

If you are lucky enough to be able to own an electric boat for cruising on the inland waters of the United Kingdom, or maybe you even have a whole fleet of them, then there is a basic equipment pack which you should have on board.

Obviously the main reason to carry the following is for your safety but if you run a business you may need to prove to the authorities and to your insurance company that you have sufficient safety equipment on board. So as you equip yourself for summer 2019 please make sure that you have :

• A lifejacket with a Newton buoyancy rating of  50 (or more). You will need a lifejacket for each person onboard.
• A fire extinguisher (check the date of validity).
• At least one rope for mooring and towing.

In some case, local authorities will ask you to have more equipment which may include :

• An anchorage system such as a mud weight or an anchor on a suitable rope and chain
• A torch

In most cases,  we recommend that you bring a cruising map and equip the boat with :

• A horn
• A GPS
• Navigation lights

For your safety, don’t forget to take a first-aid kit in case of injury.