Safety

Our Safety category is the umbrella range for staying safe on the water: lifejackets and buoyancy aids, flares and EPIRBs, liferafts, fire extinguishers and first aid kits – everything needed to meet Irish safety-equipment requirements for your type of boating.

What you need depends on where and how you boat: a day sailor pottering in Galway Bay has a shorter safety list than an offshore passage-maker, but lifejackets, a means of raising the alarm (flares or an EPIRB/PLB) and a basic first aid kit are the baseline for any leisure boat. Lifejackets are covered in more depth on our Leisure Lifejackets category – buy for the conditions you’ll actually sail in, not the minimum. Flares have an expiry date and must be replaced on schedule, and are increasingly supplemented or replaced by EPIRBs and PLBs, which alert the Irish Coast Guard directly via satellite rather than relying on someone seeing a flare.

A liferaft is a bigger investment but is the standard recommendation once you’re regularly out of easy swimming distance from shore or crossing open water. Fire extinguishers should be sized and rated for a marine engine space, not a household extinguisher pressed into service. Browse the subcategories below for the full range in each area.

Frequently asked questions

What safety equipment is legally required on a leisure boat in Ireland?

Requirements vary by boat type, size and where you operate – check the relevant Code of Practice for your vessel, but lifejackets for everyone aboard and a means of raising an alarm are standard minimums for most leisure boating.

Do flares expire?

Yes, typically after about 3 years – check the date stamped on each flare and replace expired stock; out-of-date flares should be disposed of safely, not carried as backup.

EPIRB or PLB?

An EPIRB is typically mounted to the boat and registered to the vessel; a PLB is personal, smaller, and can be carried by an individual – many offshore sailors carry both.

When do I need a liferaft rather than just lifejackets?

Once you’re regularly out of realistic swimming distance from shore or crossing open water, a liferaft becomes the standard recommendation alongside, not instead of, lifejackets.