What must a rental craft carry in Ireland?
The required safety equipment for a rental SUP, kayak, jet ski, motorboat and sailboat — every line with the section of the act and a link to it. Then what to tell customers at check-out.
Law S.I. No. 921 of 2005 (Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations), as amended by S.I. No. 349 of 2012 and S.I. No. 400 of 2018; S.I. No. 507 of 2012 (Collision Regulations); S.I. No. 149 of 2021 (Nautical Charts and Publications); for craft of 13.7 m or more the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules (S.I. No. 380 of 1993) and Fire Appliances Rules; on the Shannon Navigation the Shannon Navigation (Construction of Vessels) Bye-laws 1992 (S.I. No. 79 of 1992)
Authority: Department of Transport (Marine Survey Office)
Covers pleasure craft in Irish waters, coastal and inland, jet skis included; the Department’s Code of Practice treats kayaks, canoes and paddle boards as pleasure craft too. Under 13.7 m the only national itemised duty is a PFD for everyone (worn on craft under 7 m), plus the collision regulations and the charts-and-publications rules; from 13.7 m (Class XII) statutory life-saving and fire-fighting lists apply. On the Shannon Navigation its 1992 bye-laws add an equipment list for every craft except small open rowing and sailing boats.
Under-16s may not drive a jet ski or a fast power craft (17 knots or more), and under-12s may not drive a boat with an engine over 3.7 kW (5 hp). Harbour authorities, local authorities and Waterways Ireland may add local bye-laws. On Waterways Ireland navigations anyone working on deck must wear a PFD in every lock (Special Marine Notice No. 1 of 2026), and on the Shannon Navigation a vessel other than an open rowing or sailing boat of up to 15 hp must be registered with Waterways Ireland. On the Grand and Royal Canals (S.I. No. 247 of 1988) a boat needs bow and stern mooring lines, a suitable anchor where appropriate, fenders and enough lifebuoys and lifejackets for everyone aboard, and a boat with an enclosed cabin 1–3 fire extinguishers by length and cooking facilities.
Read the official text ↗ · Rules checked 15 October 2026
What our research found about rentals and commercial use:
- Paid passenger or charter work is outside the pleasure-craft rules and is not summarised here. S.I. 921/2005 regs 2–3 · source · Rules checked 15 October 2026
General guidance: the lists below are the equipment rules for recreational craft. Hiring craft out is a business, and some countries add rules for rental or commercial craft, or ask for a permit. Before the season, check with Department of Transport (Marine Survey Office) or the local harbour master which rules apply to your fleet.
SUP board rental
Worked out for One paddler on a SUP board, no engine, by day.
Required 2
- Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE)per person
The Code of Practice treats kayaks, canoes and paddle boards as pleasure craft. As open craft under 7 m, everyone aboard must wear a suitable PFD, except when made fast to the shore or at anchor.
S.I. 921/2005 regs 5, 6(1); Code of Practice 2024 · source - Sound signal (horn or other)
Under 12 m (kayaks and paddle boards included): a whistle and bell are not required, but some other means of making an efficient sound signal is.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rule 33(b) · source
Also required if…
Lines that join the list when your rental differs from the one above.
Out after sunset or in poor visibility1
- Waterproof torch + spare batteries
A vessel under oars at night must have a torch or lantern showing a white light ready at hand, shown in time to prevent a collision.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rule 25(d)(ii) · source
A child aboard1
- Child lifejacket, sized by weight
Under-16s must wear a suitable PFD, matched to their body weight, in an open boat or on deck on a craft of any length (not when made fast or at anchor), and at all times on a jet ski.
S.I. 921/2005 regs 6(2)–(3), 7(1) · source
Paid or commercial use (in some countries this includes hire — see above)!
Not covered: Paid passenger or charter work falls outside the pleasure-craft rules, and the Kit Finder does not cover those rules. The collision regulations still apply.
Tell the customer at check-out
GENERAL GUIDANCE- Fit the buoyancy aid and say whether wearing it is required here (see “Licence, lifejacket and charter rules”).
- Show the leash: coiled ankle leash on flat water, quick-release waist leash on rivers and in current.
- Point out the area they may use, the swimming zones and the boat traffic, on a map.
- Offshore wind: kneel or lie on the board, paddle across the wind towards the nearest shore — not back to base.
- Agree the return time and how you will contact them.
- How to call for help: phone in a waterproof pouch, the rescue number below, stay with the board.
Not a legal requirement — a starting point for your own briefing. Your insurer or local rules may ask for more.
Make a printable briefing card for your dock →Recommended — not required
- Quick-release waist leashMoving water demands a quick-release waist leash — an ankle leash in current is a hazard, not a safety device.
- Coiled ankle leashFlatwater. Your board is your biggest flotation device; stay attached to it.
- Floating waterproof phone pouchFloating, on you, not strapped to the board.
- Drysuit or thick wetsuitCold shock off a paddleboard is the classic early-season incident.
- Whistle on the vestCosts nothing, carries far.
- Personal strobe / vest lightOffshore wind takes you out faster than you can paddle back; dusk arrives sooner than expected.
Good practice for this craft, from the Kit Finder. Kit Finder ↗
Kayak / canoe rental
Worked out for One paddler in a kayak or canoe, no engine, by day.
Required 2
- Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE)per person
The Code of Practice treats kayaks, canoes and paddle boards as pleasure craft. As open craft under 7 m, everyone aboard must wear a suitable PFD, except when made fast to the shore or at anchor.
S.I. 921/2005 regs 5, 6(1); Code of Practice 2024 · source - Sound signal (horn or other)
Under 12 m (kayaks and paddle boards included): a whistle and bell are not required, but some other means of making an efficient sound signal is.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rule 33(b) · source
Also required if…
Lines that join the list when your rental differs from the one above.
Out after sunset or in poor visibility1
- Waterproof torch + spare batteries
A vessel under oars at night must have a torch or lantern showing a white light ready at hand, shown in time to prevent a collision.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rule 25(d)(ii) · source
A child aboard1
- Child lifejacket, sized by weight
Under-16s must wear a suitable PFD, matched to their body weight, in an open boat or on deck on a craft of any length (not when made fast or at anchor), and at all times on a jet ski.
S.I. 921/2005 regs 6(2)–(3), 7(1) · source
Paid or commercial use (in some countries this includes hire — see above)!
Not covered: Paid passenger or charter work falls outside the pleasure-craft rules, and the Kit Finder does not cover those rules. The collision regulations still apply.
Tell the customer at check-out
GENERAL GUIDANCE- Fit the buoyancy aid; check the spraydeck release loop is outside and they can pull it.
- Capsize: stay with the kayak, hold on, swim it to shore or wait for help; show the paddle float if you supply one.
- Point out the area, the weirs, current or shipping lanes, and where they may land.
- Groups stay together; the strongest paddler last.
- Agree the return time and how you will contact them.
- How to call for help: phone in a waterproof pouch, the rescue number below.
Not a legal requirement — a starting point for your own briefing. Your insurer or local rules may ask for more.
Make a printable briefing card for your dock →Recommended — not required
- Paddle float + hand pumpWith a hand pump, this is the actual self-rescue kit — practise before you need it.
- SpraydeckA swamped cockpit ends the trip.
- Buoyancy bagsKeeps the boat recoverable after a capsize.
- Handheld VHF, floatingSea kayaking: waterproof handheld, on your person.
- Personal strobe / vest lightYou sit very low. Being seen is the whole problem.
- Drysuit or thick wetsuitYou will be in the water at some point.
Good practice for this craft, from the Kit Finder. Kit Finder ↗
Jet ski / PWC rental
Worked out for A jet ski with a rider and a passenger, by day. Jet skis count as faster than 20 knots.
Required 4
- Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE)per person
Everyone on a jet ski, and anyone towed by one, must wear a PFD at all times.
S.I. 921/2005 reg. 7(1); S.I. 349/2012 · source - Sound signal (horn or other)
Under 12 m (kayaks and paddle boards included): a whistle and bell are not required, but some other means of making an efficient sound signal is.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rule 33(b) · source - Radar reflector
A radar reflector, as far as practicable — if one can reasonably be fitted, it should be (SOLAS V, as set out in the Department’s Code of Practice).
SOLAS V; Marine Notice No. 30 of 2023 (Code of Practice 2024, § 1.2.2) · source - Table of life-saving signalsOnly: ≤ 3 nm · 3–5 nm · > 5 nm
Under 12 m, going to sea: one copy of the latest Illustrated Table of Life Saving Signals, readily available to the person on watch.
S.I. 149/2021 regs 3(2), 4(2), 9 · source
Also required if…
Lines that join the list when your rental differs from the one above.
Out after sunset or in poor visibility1
- Navigation lights
Navigation lights at night and in poor visibility (COLREG). A sailing vessel under 7 m or a vessel under oars may instead have a white torch or lantern ready.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rules 20–25 · source
A child aboard1
- Child lifejacket, sized by weight
Under-16s must wear a suitable PFD, matched to their body weight, in an open boat or on deck on a craft of any length (not when made fast or at anchor), and at all times on a jet ski.
S.I. 921/2005 regs 6(2)–(3), 7(1) · source
Paid or commercial use (in some countries this includes hire — see above)!
Not covered: Paid passenger or charter work falls outside the pleasure-craft rules, and the Kit Finder does not cover those rules. The collision regulations still apply.
Tell the customer at check-out
GENERAL GUIDANCE- Kill cord on the wrist or the vest, every time the engine runs.
- Lifejackets on the rider and the passenger, fastened — check the wearing rule below.
- Show the area, the no-go zones, swimmers and the speed limits near the shore and in harbours (local rules).
- Licence and age: check the renter is allowed to drive it here (see below) before handing over the key.
- Capsize: how to right it (sticker on the hull) and climb back on from the stern.
- Fuel, return time, and how to call for help.
Not a legal requirement — a starting point for your own briefing. Your insurer or local rules may ask for more.
Make a printable briefing card for your dock →Recommended — not required
- Impact / buoyancy vestImpact protection as well as buoyancy — you hit the water hard.
- Kill cord / wireless kill switchWrist lanyard, every single time.
- Floating waterproof phone pouchOn you, not in the hull.
- Whistle on the vestEngine off, voice gone — a whistle carries.
- Drysuit or thick wetsuitImmersion is a matter of when, not if.
Good practice for this craft, from the Kit Finder. Kit Finder ↗
Motorboat rental
Worked out for An open motorboat, 5 m, outboard up to 25 kW (34 hp), CE-marked, up to four adults, by day, no cooker aboard.
Required 10
- Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE)per person
Enough suitable PFDs for everyone aboard. On a craft under 7 m everyone must wear one in an open boat or on deck, except when made fast to the shore or at anchor (or, when not under way, while diving or about to swim or just back from a swim). The law sets no newton rating: the PFD must be CE or wheelmark approved, give enough buoyancy for the waters and suit the wearer’s weight. Anyone being towed (water-ski, wakeboard, tube) must wear one too.
S.I. 921/2005 regs 5, 6(1), 6(4); reg. 2 (S.I. 400/2018) · source - Sound signal (horn or other)
Under 12 m (kayaks and paddle boards included): a whistle and bell are not required, but some other means of making an efficient sound signal is.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rule 33(b) · source - Radar reflector
A radar reflector, as far as practicable — if one can reasonably be fitted, it should be (SOLAS V, as set out in the Department’s Code of Practice).
SOLAS V; Marine Notice No. 30 of 2023 (Code of Practice 2024, § 1.2.2) · source - Table of life-saving signalsOnly: ≤ 3 nm · 3–5 nm · > 5 nm
Under 12 m, going to sea: one copy of the latest Illustrated Table of Life Saving Signals, readily available to the person on watch.
S.I. 149/2021 regs 3(2), 4(2), 9 · source - Lifebuoy or rescue sling + 15–25 m throwlineOnly: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: one life belt (lifebuoy) on every vessel. The bye-laws call anything other than an open punt, canoe, skiff, rowing or sailing boat with at most 15 hp a vessel; those small open boats need only the PFDs. A vessel with more than 50 cm of freeboard also needs a boarding ladder or steps.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 8(1)–(2) · source - Red hand flares× 6Only: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: 6 pyrotechnic distress signals of an approved type, with the 2 smoke signals, stowed in a watertight container labelled with its contents and their expiry. Instead you may carry a distress flag to fly in distress: white, at least 1000 × 500 mm, with a red diagonal cross (stripes 75 mm wide).
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 8(3) · source - Orange smoke signal× 2Only: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: 2 buoyant smoke signals, carried with the 6 pyrotechnics. Not needed if you carry the distress flag instead.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 8(3) · source - Anchor + rode (≥ 3 boat lengths, ≥ 15 m)Only: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: at least one efficient anchor with chain, cable or hawser suited to the vessel’s tonnage, stowed so it can be dropped or weighed quickly.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 7(1) · source - Mooring lines× 2Only: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: bow and stern mooring lines, each at least 12 m long and at least 12 mm thick in nylon or 16 mm in polypropylene, and enough fenders to protect other boats and the navigation works.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 7(1)–(2) · source - Fire extinguisher, 1 kgOnly: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: up to 5 m one fire extinguisher; over 5 m and up to 10 m one, or two with cooking facilities; over 10 m two, or three with cooking facilities. Each counts if it is a 1 kg dry powder, 2 kg CO₂ or 9 litre foam extinguisher, an automatic engine-room system or a fire blanket for the cooking area. The Kit Finder treats a flame cooker or heater as cooking facilities.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 11 · source
Also required if…
Lines that join the list when your rental differs from the one above.
Out after sunset or in poor visibility1
- Navigation lights
Navigation lights at night and in poor visibility (COLREG). A sailing vessel under 7 m or a vessel under oars may instead have a white torch or lantern ready.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rules 20–25 · source
A child aboard1
- Child lifejacket, sized by weight
Under-16s must wear a suitable PFD, matched to their body weight, in an open boat or on deck on a craft of any length (not when made fast or at anchor), and at all times on a jet ski.
S.I. 921/2005 regs 6(2)–(3), 7(1) · source
Paid or commercial use (in some countries this includes hire — see above)!
Not covered: Paid passenger or charter work falls outside the pleasure-craft rules, and the Kit Finder does not cover those rules. The collision regulations still apply.
Tell the customer at check-out
GENERAL GUIDANCE- Kill cord on the driver, every time the engine runs.
- Where the lifejackets are, how to put them on — children’s sizes by weight.
- Engine start and stop, fuel, the anchor, and how to come alongside.
- Show the area, the shallows, channels and no-go zones on a chart; propeller near swimmers.
- Weather limits and the return time; lights if they could be out after sunset.
- How to call for help: VHF channel 16 if fitted, the rescue number below.
Not a legal requirement — a starting point for your own briefing. Your insurer or local rules may ask for more.
Make a printable briefing card for your dock →Recommended — not required
- Kill cord / wireless kill switchA planing boat that loses its driver circles back over them. The single highest-value item on a motorboat.
- Lifejacket, 150 N auto-inflateAuto-inflate, so it works whether or not you were conscious when you hit the water.
- Boarding ladder reachable from the waterGetting back aboard alone, from the water, over a high topside — plan for it before you need it.
- Fixed VHF with DSCDSC distress with position, monitored by everyone around you.
- PLB, 406 MHz, registeredFor when you’re beyond VHF range or the set has drowned.
- CO alarmPetrol engines and an enclosed cabin.
Good practice for this craft, from the Kit Finder. Kit Finder ↗
Sailboat rental
Worked out for A sailing yacht, 9 m, with a cabin, an inboard engine and a gas cooker, CE-marked, up to six adults, by day.
Required 10
- Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE)per person
Enough suitable PFDs for everyone aboard, at all times. The law sets no newton rating: the PFD must be CE or wheelmark approved, give enough buoyancy for the waters and suit the wearer’s weight. Anyone being towed (water-ski, wakeboard, tube) must wear one.
S.I. 921/2005 regs 5, 6(4); reg. 2 (S.I. 400/2018) · source - Sound signal (horn or other)
Under 12 m (kayaks and paddle boards included): a whistle and bell are not required, but some other means of making an efficient sound signal is.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rule 33(b) · source - Radar reflector
A radar reflector, as far as practicable — if one can reasonably be fitted, it should be (SOLAS V, as set out in the Department’s Code of Practice).
SOLAS V; Marine Notice No. 30 of 2023 (Code of Practice 2024, § 1.2.2) · source - Table of life-saving signalsOnly: ≤ 3 nm · 3–5 nm · > 5 nm
Under 12 m, going to sea: one copy of the latest Illustrated Table of Life Saving Signals, readily available to the person on watch.
S.I. 149/2021 regs 3(2), 4(2), 9 · source - Lifebuoy or rescue sling + 15–25 m throwlineOnly: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: one life belt (lifebuoy) on every vessel. The bye-laws call anything other than an open punt, canoe, skiff, rowing or sailing boat with at most 15 hp a vessel; those small open boats need only the PFDs. A vessel with more than 50 cm of freeboard also needs a boarding ladder or steps.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 8(1)–(2) · source - Red hand flares× 6Only: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: 6 pyrotechnic distress signals of an approved type, with the 2 smoke signals, stowed in a watertight container labelled with its contents and their expiry. Instead you may carry a distress flag to fly in distress: white, at least 1000 × 500 mm, with a red diagonal cross (stripes 75 mm wide).
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 8(3) · source - Orange smoke signal× 2Only: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: 2 buoyant smoke signals, carried with the 6 pyrotechnics. Not needed if you carry the distress flag instead.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 8(3) · source - Anchor + rode (≥ 3 boat lengths, ≥ 15 m)Only: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: at least one efficient anchor with chain, cable or hawser suited to the vessel’s tonnage, stowed so it can be dropped or weighed quickly.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 7(1) · source - Mooring lines× 2Only: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: bow and stern mooring lines, each at least 12 m long and at least 12 mm thick in nylon or 16 mm in polypropylene, and enough fenders to protect other boats and the navigation works.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 7(1)–(2) · source - Fire extinguisher, 1 kg× 2Only: Shannon
Shannon Navigation: up to 5 m one fire extinguisher; over 5 m and up to 10 m one, or two with cooking facilities; over 10 m two, or three with cooking facilities. Each counts if it is a 1 kg dry powder, 2 kg CO₂ or 9 litre foam extinguisher, an automatic engine-room system or a fire blanket for the cooking area. The Kit Finder treats a flame cooker or heater as cooking facilities.
S.I. 79/1992 bye-law 11 · source
Also required if…
Lines that join the list when your rental differs from the one above.
Out after sunset or in poor visibility1
- Navigation lights
Navigation lights at night and in poor visibility (COLREG). A sailing vessel under 7 m or a vessel under oars may instead have a white torch or lantern ready.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rules 20–25 · source
A child aboard1
- Child lifejacket, sized by weight
Under-16s must wear a suitable PFD, matched to their body weight, in an open boat or on deck on a craft of any length (not when made fast or at anchor), and at all times on a jet ski.
S.I. 921/2005 regs 6(2)–(3), 7(1) · source
Yacht of 12 m or longer4
- Whistle / fog horn (12 m+)
From 12 m: a whistle meeting COLREG Annex III.
S.I. 507/2012 Sch. 1, Rule 33(a) · source - Chart + means of fixing positionOnly: ≤ 3 nm · 3–5 nm · > 5 nm
From 12 m, going to sea: an up-to-date chart for each part of the voyage, corrected from Notices to Mariners (or ECDIS).
S.I. 149/2021 regs 3(1), 5, 7(a), 8(1)(a) · source - Nautical publications for the areaOnly: ≤ 3 nm · 3–5 nm
From 12 m, within 5 nm: the International Code of Signals, the Illustrated Table of Life Saving Signals, the Admiralty List of Radio Signals, tide tables and IAMSAR Vol. III.
S.I. 149/2021 reg. 8(1)(b) · source - Nautical publications for the areaOnly: > 5 nm
From 12 m, beyond 5 nm: every publication in the Schedule — the short list plus Marine Notices, the Mariner’s Handbook, Notices to Mariners, a nautical almanac, navigational tables, lists of lights, sailing directions, tidal stream atlases and navigation-aid manuals.
S.I. 149/2021 reg. 7(b), Schedule · source
Paid or commercial use (in some countries this includes hire — see above)!
Not covered: Paid passenger or charter work falls outside the pleasure-craft rules, and the Kit Finder does not cover those rules. The collision regulations still apply.
Tell the customer at check-out
GENERAL GUIDANCE- Lifejackets and harnesses: where they are, when to wear them, how to clip on.
- Man overboard: who throws the lifebuoy, who points, how to come back under engine.
- Gas cooker: valve shut after use, ventilation; the fire extinguisher and blanket.
- Reefing, the engine, the bilge pump and the anchor.
- Weather limits, the area and the charts; return time and check-in.
- VHF: channel 16, the DSC distress button, and the rescue number below.
Not a legal requirement — a starting point for your own briefing. Your insurer or local rules may ask for more.
Make a printable briefing card for your dock →Recommended — not required
- Lifejacket, 150 N auto-inflateOffshore, a 150 N auto jacket with sprayhood, light, harness point and crotch strap — a 100 N jacket won’t turn an unconscious person in a seaway.
- Jackstays + tethersClipping on is what stops a man-overboard from happening at all.
- AIS-MOB beacon, on the lifejacketOne per crew, on the jacket. It puts a mark on your own plotter — a flare only helps if someone is already looking.
- Fixed VHF with DSCDSC distress at the press of a button, with your position attached.
- EPIRB, 406 MHz, registeredThe alert that doesn’t depend on anyone being within VHF range.
- Grab bagWhat you take into the raft. Assembled in advance or not at all.
Good practice for this craft, from the Kit Finder. Kit Finder ↗
Licence, lifejacket and charter rules
For renters and skippers, from the authorities’ own texts. Checked 14 October 2026.
Every pleasure craft must carry a suitable lifejacket/PFD for each person. On craft under 7 m, everyone must wear one in an open boat or on deck unless moored or at anchor; under-16s must wear one on any open boat or deck. Everyone on a jet ski must wear one.
Government of Ireland (Irish Statute Book, S.I. 921/2005) · Government of Ireland (Irish Statute Book, S.I. 921/2005) · Government of Ireland (Irish Statute Book, S.I. 921/2005) · Government of Ireland (Irish Statute Book, S.I. 921/2005)Where Fleet helps
Fleet doesn’t replace a single item above. It helps your staff keep an eye on every rental once it is out — we are building it with pilot operators for the 2027 season.
Printable checklist for Ireland
A sheet per craft for the waters you rent in: the required kit with the section of the act, what to tell the customer, and a sign-off line for your staff. Print it or save it as a PDF.
Questions operators ask
What safety equipment must a rental SUP board carry in Ireland?
Under S.I. No. 921 of 2005 (Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations), as amended by S.I. No. 349 of 2012 and S.I. No. 400 of 2018; S.I. No. 507 of 2012 (Collision Regulations); S.I. No. 149 of 2021 (Nautical Charts and Publications); for craft of 13.7 m or more the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules (S.I. No. 380 of 1993) and Fire Appliances Rules; on the Shannon Navigation the Shannon Navigation (Construction of Vessels) Bye-laws 1992 (S.I. No. 79 of 1992), for the rental we assume (One paddler on a SUP board, no engine, by day): Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE) and Sound signal (horn or other). Some lines apply only in certain waters, and paid or commercial use can add more — see the page.
What safety equipment must a rental kayak / canoe carry in Ireland?
Under S.I. No. 921 of 2005 (Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations), as amended by S.I. No. 349 of 2012 and S.I. No. 400 of 2018; S.I. No. 507 of 2012 (Collision Regulations); S.I. No. 149 of 2021 (Nautical Charts and Publications); for craft of 13.7 m or more the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules (S.I. No. 380 of 1993) and Fire Appliances Rules; on the Shannon Navigation the Shannon Navigation (Construction of Vessels) Bye-laws 1992 (S.I. No. 79 of 1992), for the rental we assume (One paddler in a kayak or canoe, no engine, by day): Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE) and Sound signal (horn or other). Some lines apply only in certain waters, and paid or commercial use can add more — see the page.
What safety equipment must a rental jet ski / PWC carry in Ireland?
Under S.I. No. 921 of 2005 (Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations), as amended by S.I. No. 349 of 2012 and S.I. No. 400 of 2018; S.I. No. 507 of 2012 (Collision Regulations); S.I. No. 149 of 2021 (Nautical Charts and Publications); for craft of 13.7 m or more the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules (S.I. No. 380 of 1993) and Fire Appliances Rules; on the Shannon Navigation the Shannon Navigation (Construction of Vessels) Bye-laws 1992 (S.I. No. 79 of 1992), for the rental we assume (A jet ski with a rider and a passenger, by day. Jet skis count as faster than 20 knots): Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE), Sound signal (horn or other), Radar reflector, and Table of life-saving signals. Some lines apply only in certain waters, and paid or commercial use can add more — see the page.
What safety equipment must a rental motorboat carry in Ireland?
Under S.I. No. 921 of 2005 (Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations), as amended by S.I. No. 349 of 2012 and S.I. No. 400 of 2018; S.I. No. 507 of 2012 (Collision Regulations); S.I. No. 149 of 2021 (Nautical Charts and Publications); for craft of 13.7 m or more the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules (S.I. No. 380 of 1993) and Fire Appliances Rules; on the Shannon Navigation the Shannon Navigation (Construction of Vessels) Bye-laws 1992 (S.I. No. 79 of 1992), for the rental we assume (An open motorboat, 5 m, outboard up to 25 kW (34 hp), CE-marked, up to four adults, by day, no cooker aboard): Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE), Sound signal (horn or other), Radar reflector, Table of life-saving signals, Lifebuoy or rescue sling + 15–25 m throwline, Red hand flares, Orange smoke signal, Anchor + rode (≥ 3 boat lengths, ≥ 15 m), Mooring lines, and Fire extinguisher, 1 kg. Some lines apply only in certain waters, and paid or commercial use can add more — see the page.
What safety equipment must a rental sailboat carry in Ireland?
Under S.I. No. 921 of 2005 (Pleasure Craft (Personal Flotation Devices and Operation) (Safety) Regulations), as amended by S.I. No. 349 of 2012 and S.I. No. 400 of 2018; S.I. No. 507 of 2012 (Collision Regulations); S.I. No. 149 of 2021 (Nautical Charts and Publications); for craft of 13.7 m or more the Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules (S.I. No. 380 of 1993) and Fire Appliances Rules; on the Shannon Navigation the Shannon Navigation (Construction of Vessels) Bye-laws 1992 (S.I. No. 79 of 1992), for the rental we assume (A sailing yacht, 9 m, with a cabin, an inboard engine and a gas cooker, CE-marked, up to six adults, by day): Buoyancy aid, 50 N (CE), Sound signal (horn or other), Radar reflector, Table of life-saving signals, Lifebuoy or rescue sling + 15–25 m throwline, Red hand flares, Orange smoke signal, Anchor + rode (≥ 3 boat lengths, ≥ 15 m), Mooring lines, and Fire extinguisher, 1 kg. Some lines apply only in certain waters, and paid or commercial use can add more — see the page.
Is this legal advice?
No. It is a summary of the official texts, with a link to each one, to help you prepare. The operator and the skipper stay responsible for the equipment; when in doubt, the cited act and the national authority win.
A summary to help you prepare, not legal advice. The operator and the skipper stay responsible for the equipment and its condition. Rules change — when in doubt, the cited act wins, and local bylaws, permits or your insurer may ask for more.
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