Boat Safety Gear Expiry Dates Every Owner Forgets

There is a particular type of anxiety that comes from opening the flare kit three days before a passage and realising the flares expired in March. Not because anything bad happened — but because something easily could have, and the only reason you know is luck.

Boat safety gear has expiry dates, service intervals and battery replacement schedules. Most of it is out of sight, stored in lockers or bags, and easy to forget about between seasons. This guide covers everything on board with a date attached to it, what those dates mean and how to make sure you never miss one.

Quick reference: safety gear service intervals

Item	Interval	Notes
Flares	3 years	From manufacture date, not purchase date
Fire extinguishers	1 year inspection; 5 year service	Visual check annually; full service every 5 years
Life raft	1–3 years	Varies by manufacturer and storage type
EPIRB battery	5 years typical	Check label; hydrostatic release also has expiry
EPIRB registration	Review annually	Vessel details must stay current
Lifejackets	Annual service	Bladder test, re-arming kit, cylinder check
Harnesses and tethers	Annual inspection; replace at 10 years	Check stitching, buckles and clip operation
First aid kit	Annual	Check contents and medication expiry dates
PLB battery	5–10 years	Check manufacturer label
Smoke signals (coastal)	3 years	Same as flares — manufacture date

Flares

Flares are the item most boat owners know about and most frequently ignore. The legal requirement in most jurisdictions is to carry flares that are within their service life — typically three years from the manufacture date printed on the casing.

The common mistake is counting from the purchase date. Flares sitting in a chandlery for six months arrive on your boat already six months into their three-year life.

• Check the manufacture date on each flare, not the purchase date
• Most regulations require a minimum of four flares; check your flag state requirements
• Out-of-date flares can be used for practice or taken to a chandlery for disposal — do not throw them in the sea
• Parachute flares, handheld flares and smoke signals all have the same three-year rule

Fire extinguishers

Fire extinguishers need annual visual inspection and a full service every five years. The annual check covers pressure gauge reading, physical condition and accessibility. The five-year service involves a full inspection by a qualified engineer.

• Check the pressure gauge is in the green zone at least annually
• Powder extinguishers should be shaken periodically to prevent the powder compacting
• Dry powder extinguishers are effective but leave a significant mess — consider CO2 for engine spaces
• Keep the service record and next service date visible on the extinguisher itself

Life raft

The life raft is the most expensive item to service and the one most boat owners put off the longest. Service intervals vary between manufacturers but are typically one to three years. Canister-stored rafts generally require more frequent servicing than valise-stored ones.

• The service label is attached to the raft container — check the "service by" date
• Servicing must be done by an approved service station for the specific manufacturer
• Keep the service certificate on board — insurers and marinas increasingly ask for it
• Hydrostatic releases (if fitted) also have a service date — typically every two years

EPIRB

An EPIRB only works if its battery is charged, its registration is current and its hydrostatic release is functional. All three have dates that need tracking.

• Battery: typically five years from manufacture; replacement date is on the label
• Hydrostatic release: typically two years; check manufacturer specification
• Registration: must be registered with your national authority and show correct vessel details — check annually that nothing has changed
• Test the self-test function monthly; never transmit on the distress frequency for testing

Lifejackets

Lifejackets require annual servicing by a qualified service station. A service includes bladder inflation test, re-arming kit replacement (if needed), gas cylinder weight check and inspection of all straps and clips.

• Automatic lifejackets have a water-activated bobbin — check it hasn't been triggered by moisture
• Re-arming kits have an expiry date — check it matches or exceeds your next service date
• Crotch straps and chest straps should be inspected for UV degradation
• Lights attached to lifejackets have battery expiry dates — check annually

The real problem: out of sight, out of mind

Every item above is stored in a locker, bag or compartment that most boat owners open only a few times a year. The only reliable way to stay on top of safety gear expiry dates is to track them somewhere you'll see them before departure — not buried in the equipment.

A simple log with each item, its last service date and next service due is enough. What matters is that it's somewhere you check regularly, not somewhere you find after the event.