A RIB is making a 15nm coastal passage. What safety equipment should be carried as a minimum?

A. Only lifejackets and a mobile phone — all other items are optional for coastal passages

B. A VHF radio is only required for passages over 10nm

C. Equipment is only required beyond 3nm from shore

D. Lifejackets for all (worn, not stowed); VHF radio (charged, Ch 16 monitored); flares (2 red handheld minimum, orange smoke); bailer and pump; anchor and line; first aid kit; kill cord; compass; chart or GPS; spare fuel; warm/waterproof clothing; torch; knife

A. The kill cord is only required when travelling above 15 knots

B. If the driver is thrown from the helm, the cord pulls the kill switch stopping the engine — preventing the vessel continuing at speed unmanned (a "circle of death" where an uncontrolled powerboat circles at full throttle striking the crew in the water)

C. The kill cord prevents fuel surging at high speed

D. Kill cords are advisory only — they are not required by law for leisure powerboats

A. Check fuel and kill cord only — all other checks are annual service items

B. Fuel (level, no leaks, correct mix if 2-stroke); oil (4-stroke: check dipstick); engine mounting bolts tight; kill cord condition and function; propeller (no damage, cotter pin present); safety equipment (lifejackets, flares, VHF, bailer, paddle); kill cord attached before starting

C. Run the engine in the water for 10 minutes before departure — no pre-launch checks needed

D. Only check fuel level — outboard engines are self-maintaining