F.A.Q. · Ocean City MD
Required and smart safety gear for Ocean City boats—fire extinguishers, flares, horns, kill switches, anchors, bailers, first-aid, throwable PFDs, navigation lights, storm kits, and pre-departure checks for bay and offshore runs.
Summer Inlet traffic and sudden squalls expose missing flares or dead horns fast—Coast Guard boardings and self-rescue both assume working gear. Five-minute dock checks beat emergency tows.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Maryland DNR · Visit Ocean City
Carry USCG-approved extinguishers sized for your vessel—engine compartment fires need reachable mounts, not buried lockers. Check pressure gauge yearly and replace after single use.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Maryland DNR · Visit Ocean City
Flare kits expire—check dates before offshore trips and know day versus night signals. LED distress lights supplement some kits; verify current carriage rules for your length class.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Visit Ocean City
Whistles or horns satisfy many small-boat rules—Inlet crossings need audible signals in fog and traffic. Air horns freeze less often than cheap squeeze bulbs.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Maryland DNR · Visit Ocean City
Test bow and stern lights before pre-dawn inlet fishing returns—dead bulbs create collision risk in commercial lanes. Carry spare bulbs and know rowing/sailing light rules if applicable.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Town of Ocean City · Visit Ocean City
Attach kill-switch lanyard to PFD or wrist on small skiffs—ejected operators without lanyards become man-overboard statistics. PWCs require lanyard use by law.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Maryland DNR · Visit Ocean City
Suitable anchor and rode length for Isle of Wight Bay depths—engine failure without anchor drifts you into traffic. Practice setting anchor away from inlet rip.
Sources: Maryland DNR · U.S. Coast Guard · Visit Ocean City
Manual bailer or bilge pump handles following-sea spray—check bilge pump fuse before launch. Soft decking hides water until stability suffers.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Visit Ocean City
Marine kits add motion-sickness tabs, sunburn care, and waterproof bandages—pair with fishing hook tools if casting from same boat. Store dry and accessible.
Sources: Atlantic General Hospital · U.S. Coast Guard · Visit Ocean City
Ring or cushion mounted within arm’s reach—not under fish boxes. Brief guests on throw technique before leaving dock.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Maryland DNR · Visit Ocean City
Working marine radio belongs beside PFDs and flares—handheld backup if fixed mount fails. See dedicated VHF FAQ category for Channel 16 habits.
Sources: U.S. Coast Guard · Visit Ocean City
Prop pin, spark plugs, fuel filter, duct tape, and multi-tool solve common ramp cancellations—marina chandlers in West Ocean City stock summer essentials.
Sources: Visit Ocean City · Maryland DNR
