46 C.F.R. § 169.529
Description of lifeboat equipment.
Cite as 46 C.F.R. § 169.529 (2026)
(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
3/16
-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
3
1
⁄
2
8
5
2
1
⁄
2
21
23
113
8
3
16
11
12
4
15
1
14.35
10
15
2
3
1
⁄
2
9
3
2
1
⁄
2
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
4
1
⁄
2
11
5
3
1
⁄
4
29
31
203
11
0
22
8
16
6
20
3
20.74
6
20
6
4
1
⁄
2
12
0
3
1
⁄
4
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]
- Cross-references to the CFR
- 169.115169.52946:199.175