The Mandatory safety equipment for a boat Recess time in Spain is set by the Royal Decree 339/2021, and it depends on the area where you are sailing. All boats must carry one life jacket per person, a foghorn, an anchor line, a waterproof flashlight, a national flag, a radar reflector, a boat hook, two mooring lines, and bailing equipment. Beyond that, the farther you get from the coast, the more equipment you need.
What regulations will apply in 2026?
The current regulation is the Royal Decree 339/2021, dated May 18, effective as of July 1, 2021. It replaced the former Order FOM/1144/2003, which many websites still cite. It applies to recreational vessels between 2.5 and 24 meters in length, regardless of propulsion type, that carry no more than 12 passengers. Excluded are, among others, personal watercraft, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards, which are subject to their own regulations.
The equipment you already had on board in accordance with the previous order may continue to be used, but its inspections are governed by the new regulation.
The 7 Navigation Zones
| Area | How far can you sail? |
| 1 | Unlimited browsing |
| 2 | Up to 60 miles from the coast |
| 3 | Up to 25 miles from the coast |
| 4 | Up to 12 miles from the coast |
| 5 | Up to 5 miles from a shelter or accessible beach |
| 6 | Up to 2 miles from a breakwater or accessible beach |
| 7 | Protected waters: harbors, anchorages, estuaries, and sheltered bays |
If your boat has a CE mark, its design category limits the zones: Category A allows all zones, Category B allows zones 2 through 7, Category C allows zones 4 through 7, and Category D allows only zone 7. Under no circumstances should you sail in winds and waves exceeding those for which the boat was designed.
Rescue teams by area
| Team | Zone 1 | Zones 2–3 | Zone 4 | Zones 5-6 | Zone 7 |
| Life raft for everyone on board | Yes | Yes | - | - | - |
| One life jacket per person | Yes (+1 extra) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum buoyancy of the life jacket | 275 N | 150 N | 150 N | 100 N | 100 N |
| Light on the vest | Yes | Yes | Only at Night | Only at Night | Only at Night |
| Life preserver ring with light and rope | 1 (+1 without power) | 1 | 1 | - | - |
| Hand-held flares | 6 | 6 | 3 | 3 | - |
| Rockets with red lights and parachutes | 6 | 6 | 3 | - | - |
| Floating smoke signals | 2 | 1 | - | - | - |
| First-aid kit for life rafts | Yes | Yes | Yes | - | - |
Carry life jackets that are appropriate for the weight and size of each child or infant on board. Inflatable life jackets and life rafts must be inspected at authorized service stations in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Boating Equipment by Region
| Material | Zone 1 | Zones 2–3 | Zone 4 | Zones 5–7 |
| Compass | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
| Charts and nautical publications | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
| Binoculars | Yes | Yes | Yes | - |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Set of Flags | Yes | Yes | - | - |
| Sextant, chronometer, and logbook | Yes | - | - | - |
| National flag, waterproof lantern, and radar reflector | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If your boat has an enclosed wheelhouse and is classified as Design Category A or B, you need a compass, charts, nautical publications, and binoculars even if you only sail in Zones 5, 6, or 7. A radar reflector is required on non-metallic hulls.
Equipment You Need in Every Area
- Navigation lights and marks in accordance with the regulations for preventing collisions. During daylight hours in Zones 4 through 7, vessels less than 7 m in length may substitute a white flashlight for these lights.
- Manual or gas-powered fog horn (with diaphragm and reserve tank). For vessels 20 m in length or longer, a bell is also required.
- An anchor line at least five times the length of the boat, with a section of chain equal to the length of the boat (on boats up to 6 m, it may consist entirely of rope).
- Two mooring lines and a boat hook.
- Emergency steering systems on sailboats or single-engine boats with remote steering (except for outboard or stern-mounted engines).
- Air pump and puncture repair kit for inflatable boats and RIBs.
Fire Extinguishers and Bilge Pumps
If your boat has a CE mark, carry the fire extinguishers specified in the manufacturer’s manual; keep it on board, because the authorities may ask to see it. If your boat does not have a CE mark, the number of fire extinguishers required depends on the boat’s length and engine power; you must carry fire extinguishers weighing at least 2 kg with a rating of 34 B, one of which must be accessible from the helm.
For bailing, in zones 1 through 3 you need a motorized pump, a manual pump, and two 5-liter buckets; in zones 4 through 6, a manual or electric pump and one bucket; and in zone 7, a manual or electric pump.
Expiration Dates: The Most Common Mistake
Having flares, rockets, smoke signals, fire extinguishers, a first-aid kit, inflatable life jackets, or a life raft on board with an expired inspection or expiration date is considered a serious violation, just as failing to carry them is. Check the dates at the start of each season.
What kind of fine could you face?
Failure to carry the required equipment, or carrying equipment that has expired, is a serious violation. Royal Decree 339/2021 sets the fines per item. For example, 200 to 250 euros for each missing life jacket, 100 to 150 euros for each flare or rocket, 300 to 400 euros for each fire extinguisher, and 500 to 3,000 euros for the life raft, depending on the vessel’s length.
Checklist Before You Leave
- Confirm the area you're going to and the area your boat is allowed to enter.
- Count life jackets: one per person, with a light if you're sailing at night or in Zones 1 through 3.
- Check the expiration dates on flares, fire extinguishers, the first-aid kit, and the life raft.
- Check your horn, flashlight, and spare batteries.
- Test the bilge pump.
- Carry the manufacturer's manual and the boat's documentation on board.
Your documents, right on your phone with PortView
During an inspection or when you arrive at a new port, you'll be asked for your boat's paperwork. With PortView, you can keep your boat's documentation on your phone and share it with the marina before you arrive—no more folders in the glove compartment.
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