As with any form of organized racing, there are rules and regulations that need to be applied and followed. Boat racing is no exception especially when safety comes into play. Due to the high speeds, boat racers are at high risk for accidents and potential drowning making boat racing safety equipment a necessity.

Not all racing boats are required to have the same safety equipment and vary upon the type of racing or division they are classified under. Nevertheless, personal safety equipment is a must for all boat racing drivers. Some of the major personal boat safety equipment required are:

o Crash Helmet: Must meet all guideline racing specifications with clear identification of such and must be worn at all times on the water unless docked or under towing conditions.
o Helmet Restraint: Approved commercially manufactured straps must be used to secure helmet to drivers head.
o Neck Collar: Must be on at all times while on the water and meet all guideline specifications.
o Eye Protection: Must be on at all times while on water and meet all guideline specifications. Goggles or full face shields are acceptable but standard corrective eyewear or sunglasses alone is not permitted per boat racing safety equipment.
o Corrective Eyewear: At qualification of racing, all drivers must submit either their driver’s license or competition driver’s license in order to see if corrective eyewear is required. If corrective eyewear has been indicated, as a requirement, driver must wear proper corrective eyewear at all times while on the water.
o Medical Tags: All drivers must carry on their body medical identification tags, to be worn around the neck secured under driving suit.
o Ballistic Shorts: When traveling at high speeds on water there is risk of crashing causing serious injury. Ballistic shorts help to protect delicate body parts.
o Driving Suit: Must be made of non-flammable material, long sleeved with closured cuffs, bare the official NDBA logo patch on the upper left front panel or on upper left sleeve, and meet all other specifications for division. Cotton socks and fireproof shoes must also be worn.
o Gloves: fire retardant
o Life Jacket: Both capsule and non-capsule boat styles must wear floatation devices that meet the qualification specifications at all times while on the water.

Personal Safety gear is just one aspect of the boat racing safety equipment required. There is numerous other safety equipment required that also protects the driver in case of accidents. All boats are required to have approved secondary breathing equipment on board and drivers must wear a five-point safety harness. The interior of the boat must have no less then ¼ inch of foam padding and specified mounting brackets and bolts must securely mount everything. Fire extinguishers, fuel shut off valves, kill switches, paddles and parachutes are just a small amount of some of the requirements.

Boat racing drivers have a specific assortment of gear to help them in the occurrence of an accident. All boats prior to hitting the water must pass a thorough inspection for all boat racing safety equipment. With careful evaluations and constant upgrading, boat racing is less dangerous then it once was.