Legal requirements of maintaining an EPIRB

[captain465]

I have been told that having an out of date (read battery) EPIRB aboard would lead to a citation if boarded by the Coast Guard. Does anyone know of the legal requirements attached to carrying an EPIRB on board?
Would the same situation exist with a liferaft?

[svHyLyte]

The USCG only cares about the registration of the unit and whether it's current and correct. If the batteries are out of date that's your problem, only your life depends upon it. There is no legal obligation to carry an EPIRB in US waters but, if one does, it must be properly registered--unless of course, you want the CG to simply call Ghost Busters when you pop the trigger.

FWIW...

s/v HyLyte

[David M]

There is no requirement for either for non-commercial vessels.