dbuck - Below is my list of things I bring out with me EVERYTIME I leave the boat ramp!!!! It may seem like a lot, but it all is easily stowed in a blaze orange dry bag and a blaze orange drybox!!!
I have a 16' Sylvan Fisherman and get down to Tuckerton area in Little Egg Harbor (fog rolls in down there out of nowhere, so the following may seem extreme, but trust me, it's better to be prepared!!!).
A throwable life line is NOT required for a 16' boat, but it's not a bad idea to have one!!!
Neither is a VHF Radio, but it's a good idea to have one - Here's why:
My buddy and I were in the Atlantic Highlands/Highlands areas of Sandy Hook Bay / Navesink / Shrewsbury River where cell phones DO NOT WORK, and the handheld VHF I had in my bag on my his boat helped when his 21' $28,000.00 boat took on a leak and started sinking - the bilge pump was inoperable!!! It was nice to be able to reach Sea Tow and have them bring a pump, even though we had beached the boat to prevent it from sinking.
Here's my list:
(1) Floatation cushion for each adult. I also have life vests stowed in a forward enclosed storage area, but they are NOT required, as the floatation cushion is sufficient to p [no swearing please] Coast Guard and State Marine Police Inspections.
(Trust me, I get checked every year by both the Coast Guard at Sandy Hook AND Marine Police in Sea Bright!!!! Also, my good friend is a State Trooper who is assigned to the NJ State Marine Police Barracks in Pt. Pleasant - He's patrolled both the North and South zones, but is now mainly patrolling the South zone.)
(2) Heads up floatation jacket/life vest for each child (2 years old - 10 years old - This is MY rule and ALL must be able to swim and float on their backs, or NO boat!!!)
(3) Bailer (Chlorox bottle w/bottom cut off)
(4) extra boat plug
(5) extendable paddle w/boat hook on other end
(6) spare anchor w/line
(7) "blaze orange" daytime distress flag
(8) air horn
(9) fire extinguisher
(10) 12 ga. Orion Flare Kit w/spare flares
(11) handheld flares
(12) Uniden handheld VHF radio (w/weather channels)
(13) Engineers Compass
(14) Captains Chart for the area you'll be navigating
(15) Garmin handheld GPS
(16) 10' tapered Cedar Push Pole (for gettin' off of the occasional flat/sand bar when they "shift" after a storm and from year to year - Captain's charts are pretty accurate, but they are usually a year or more old and Mother Nature changes things daily!!!)
(17) rain gear & clear plastic glasses/goggles (that rain hurts when trying to get in when a squall kicks up out of nowhere)
(18) First Aid Kit