Minnesota Mandates C0 Detectors for Boats

Under a new Minnesota state law all boats with enclosed accommodations will require carbon monoxide detectors next year.

Minnesota boaters have until May 1, 2017 to ensure that any boats they operate which have enclosed cabins are fitted with working carbon monoxide detectors.

Under a new bill signed into law last week by Minnesota governor Mark Dayton, carbon monoxide alarms will be mandatory on any boat that has an enclosed accommodation compartment, defined by the American Boat and Yacht Council as “a contiguous enclosed space surrounded by a boat structure that has designated sleeping accommodations, a galley area with a sink, and a head.”

Additionally, the new law will prohibit the sale of boats with such accommodations unless they come with a C0 detector onboard.

Minnesota is believed to be the first state in the US to require carbon monoxide detectors on boats. The bill was introduced into the state’s legislature in response to a tragic accident which occurred last year, when a seven year-old girl was killed by carbon monoxide poisoning during a family outing on Lake Minnetonka.