What safety equipment is essential to have onboard a vessel?

Life jackets are considered essential safety equipment on board a vessel because they provide buoyancy and help prevent drowning in the event of an emergency. They are designed to keep a person afloat, which is crucial if someone falls overboard or if the vessel capsizes. The U.S. Coast Guard mandates that all recreational vessels must have a properly fitted life jacket for each person on board, highlighting their importance in ensuring the safety of all individuals aboard.

In contrast, while flare guns can be useful for signaling for help, they are not as universally required as life jackets. Fishing gear and coffee makers do not serve a safety purpose and are not necessary to ensure the safety of those on board, thus they do not meet the requirement for essential safety equipment.