46 CFR § 169.525 - General.

(a) Equipment for primary lifesaving apparatus must kept in good condition.

(b) Lifeboats, inflatable liferafts and lifefloats must be fully equipped before the vessel is navigated and throughout the voyage.

(c) No person may stow in any lifeboat, inflatable liferaft, or lifefloat any article not required by this subpart unless the article is authorized by the OCMI, in good working order, and properly stowed so as not to reduce the seating capacity, the space available to the occupants, or adversely affect the seaworthiness of the livesaving apparatus.

(d) Loose equipment, except boathooks in lifeboats, must be securely attached to the lifesaving appliance to which it belongs.