Fire extinguishers are classified by letters and numbers. The letter indicates the type of fire the unit is designed to extinguish. For example, a type B extinguisher is meant to put out flammable liquids, and type C is for electrical fires. The number stands for the amount of extinguishing agent in the unit. For example, a B-I extinguisher has less agent than a B-II.

Motorboats 26 feet or more in length are required to carry Coast Guard-approved hand portable fire extinguishers. Motorboats less than 26 feet in length, powered by an outboard motor and not carrying passengers for hire are not required to carry fire extinguishers unless they have one or more of the following conditions:

• Closed compartments under seats where portable fuel tanks may be stored.
• Double bottoms not sealed to the hull or not completely filled with flotation material. Note: Open boats such as johnboats where an after-market solid wood or metal floor is installed and is not completely sealed to the hull are not required to carry a fire extinguisher.
• Closed living spaces.
• Closed storage compartments in which flammable materials are stowed.
• Permanently installed fuel tanks. Fire extinguishers must be immediately available and installed (mounted away from the fuel source). They must be fully charged, in usable (good) condition and inspected regularly.

It is illegal for a boat to be so loud that it is an extraordinary annoyance or distraction to persons in the vicinity of that boat. Boat motors must be equipped with an efficient muffling system or device in good working order. Most boats and motors that come directly from the manufacturer are adequately muffled. Boat exhaust systems may not be modified in any manner that will reduce or eliminate the effectiveness of the muffler or muffler system. Cut-outs (muffler bypasses) are illegal in Pennsylvania. Boats without a muffler or muffling system must be backfitted before being operated.

The Water Quality Act of 1987 requires the installation of a marine sanitation device (MSD) on all vessels with installed toilet systems operating in the navigational waters of the United States. Marine toilets are a source of pollution if not designed correctly. They must be of a sealed construction so no waste can be discharged from the toilet directly or indirectly into the water. All MSDs must be Coast Guard approved.

Discharge of sewage, treated or untreated, is prohibited in all fresh water impoundments lying entirely within the boundaries of the state. If your watercraft is equipped with an installed toilet system, it must be removed, sealed or drained into a holding tank which can be carried or pumped ashore for disposal at an approved sewage treatment system. Portable toilets are not considered installed toilets. Direct overboard discharge of portable toilet waste is a violation of state water regulations.

Each operator of a boat involved in a boating accident must stop, render assistance, and offer identification. If the accident results in a death or disappearance, the Fish & Boat Commission must be notified immediately, followed by a written boating accident report within 48 hours. If the accident results in an injury that requires treatment beyond first aid, a written boating accident report must be submitted within 48 hours. If the accident results in damage to the vessel or other property exceeding $2,000, or if there is a complete loss of the vessel, a written boating accident report must be submitted within 10 days. All reports are confidential and for the use of the Commission for boating safety purposes only. Reports must be sent to: PA Fish & Boat Commission, Bureau of Boating & Education, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000. Boating Accident Reports are available on the Commission's web site: www.fish.state.pa.us.