WASHINGTON, DC — The Coast Guard is open to comments from the boating community on whether all recreational vessels should have anchors as a mandatory part of on-board safety equipment. A petition for rulemaking submitted by the National Boating Federation requests that the Coast Guard require all recreational vehicles to carry proper anchoring gear. Currently Federal regulations do not require that ground tackle be carried on recreational vessels as safety equipment. The Coast Guard is interested in answers to the following questions:

1. Should the Coast Guard propose regulations for recreational vessels to carry appropriate ground tackle as required safety equipment? Why or why not?
2. If not all vessels, should the Coast Guard propose regulations for any class, type or size of recreational vessels to carry appropriate ground tackle?
3. If not on all waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, should the Coast Guard propose regulations for recreational vessels on any waters?
4. If the Coast Guard should propose any ground tackle carriage requirements, how should it address the variety of anchor sizes and styles, the various lengths of chain or line, and the various sizes and types of recreational vessels that would be subject to such requirements?
5. Please describe any non-regulatory ways to reduce the number of recreational boating accidents that are achievable at lower cost or with less burden than through implementing Federal rules for carrying ground tackle.
6. Are you aware of any additional information about boating accidents involving the use or absence of anchors or ground tackle, that you think the U.S. Coast Guard should consider?