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Title 46

Displaying title 46, up to date as of 6/10/2026. Title 46 was last amended 6/05/2026.
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§ 169.529 Description of lifeboat equipment.

(a) All lifeboat equipment must meet the requirements under 46 CFR 199.175, except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section.

(b) The following equipment, carried in addition to the equipment required under 46 CFR 199.175, must meet the following requirements:

(1) Cover, protecting. The cover must be of highly visible color and capable of protecting the occupants against exposure. A cover is not required for fully enclosed lifeboats.

(2) Ditty bag. The ditty bag must consist of a canvas bag or equivalent and must contain a sailmaker's palm, needles, sail twine, marline, and marlin spike, except that motor-propelled lifeboats need not carry a ditty bag.

(3) Mast and sail. A unit, consisting of a standing lug sail together with the necessary spars and rigging, must be provided in accordance with table 1 to this section, except that motor-propelled lifeboats need not carry a mast or sails. The sails must be of good quality canvas, or other material acceptable to the Commandant, colored Indian Orange (Cable No. 70072, Standard Color Card of America; incorporated by reference, see § 169.115). Rigging must consist of galvanized wire rope not less than 316-inch in diameter. The mast and sail must be protected by a suitable cover.

Table 1 to § 169.529

Length of lifeboat, feet Standing lug sail Commercial designation number Mast 1 Yard 1
Over— Not over— Area, square feet Luff and head lengths Leach length Foot length Clew to throat Ounces per square yard Length Diameter, inches Length Diameter, inches
Feet Inches Feet Inches Feet Inches Feet Inches Feet Inches Feet Inches
17 58 5 11 12 1 8 10 10 10 14.35 10 11 2 3 6 11 2
17 19 74 6 8 13 8 10 0 12 2 14.35 10 12 6 3 7 8 2
19 21 93 7 5 15 1 11 2 13 8 14.35 10 13 10 312 8 5 212
21 23 113 8 3 16 11 12 4 15 1 14.35 10 15 2 312 9 3 212
23 25 135 9 0 18 6 13 6 16 6 14.35 10 16 6 4 10 0 3
25 27 158 9 9 20 0 14 7 17 10 17.50 8 17 10 4 10 9 3
27 29 181 10 5 21 5 15 7 19 1 17.50 8 19 2 412 11 5 314
29 31 203 11 0 22 8 16 6 20 3 20.74 6 20 6 412 12 0 314
31 2
1 Mast lengths measured from heel to center of upper halyard sheave. Mast diameters measured at thwart. Mast and yard shall be of clear-grained spruce, fir, or equivalent.
2 Subject to special consideration.

[USCG-2020-0107, 87 FR 68306, Nov. 14, 2022]