Final answer:
Boats that are 16 feet or longer (excluding canoes and kayaks) are required to have a Type IV throwable Personal Floatation Device onboard as per USCG regulations to provide immediate assistance in man-overboard situations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under the regulations set by the United States Coast Guard (USCG), all boats that are 16 feet or longer (excluding canoes and kayaks) must have at least one Type IV throwable Personal Floatation Device (PFD) onboard.
This type of PFD is designed to be thrown to someone in the water and provide immediate assistance to help prevent drowning until a more secured rescue can be performed.
Recreational boats that fall under this requirement include powerboats, sailboats, and larger manual boats. It's important for all boat owners and operators to be informed about their vessel's safety equipment requirements to ensure compliance with USCG regulations and to promote the safety of everyone on the water.
According to USCG regulations, recreational boats that are less than 16 feet in length are required to have a Type IV (throwable) Personal Floatation Device on board.
These devices are throwable cushions or rings that can be easily thrown to someone in the water to provide buoyancy and aid in rescue efforts. They are meant to supplement the required wearable personal floatation devices (life jackets) on board the boat.