Final answer:
On federal waters, vessels 18 feet in length must adhere to regulations that include carrying required safety gear and taking actions to prevent the spread of invasive species by thoroughly cleaning the vessel, draining live wells, and bilges, and submitting Ballast Water Reports where relevant.
Step-by-step explanation:
When boating on federal waters, vessels 18 feet in length are legally required to carry onboard certain equipment for safety purposes. One of the requirements is to have a life jacket or personal flotation device (PFD) for every person onboard the vessel.
For vessels of this size, it is also mandatory to have a throwable flotation device, such as a throwable cushion or a ring buoy. Additionally, it is important to have distress signals, such as a whistle or horn, and navigation lights for nighttime boating.