International Fire Protection Services

You are required by law to have a fire extinguisher on board if your boat has an engine, closed compartments, a double bottom that is not sealed to the hull, closed living spaces or permanently installed fuel tanks.

Short answer is yes. Most class vessel’s are required by flag laws to have extinguishers inspected annually. Your insurance company will most likely have requirements as well.

According to the USGC, If your boat is less than 26 feet, you need one 5-B fire extinguisher on board, 26 to 40 feet two 5-B extinguishers or a single 20-B, 40 to 65 feet, three 5-B fire extinguishers or one 20-B fire extinguisher and one 5-B fire extinguisher.

If your boat is longer than 65 feet, check the federal regulations.

Disposable fire extinguishers should be replaced every 12 years and rechargeable fire extinguishers should be recharged every 6 years and replaced at 12 years.

They could need to be replaced sooner depending on a variety of conditions.