Engine failure: what to do when you lose power

Last verified: 14 October 2026

Step by step

1. Lifejackets on, then assess

   Get everyone into a lifejacket. Then look at where the wind and current are taking you, and how close the shore, rocks or shipping are.[1][2][3]

2. Drop the anchor

   If you cannot restart the engine and the water is shallow enough, drop the anchor from the bow to hold your position. As a rule, let out five to seven times the water depth in line.[4][5][6]

3. Check the anchor is holding

   Watch fixed landmarks or your GPS position. Anchors can drag in strong wind or current and let the boat drift or run aground.[7][8]

4. Too deep or too rough? Use a sea anchor

   If you cannot anchor, trail a sea anchor from the bow to keep the boat headed into the waves. A bucket can work in an emergency.[9]

5. Call early with a PAN-PAN

   If you are safe for now, send a PAN-PAN on VHF channel 16. Early notice gives rescuers time and can be crucial to a good outcome.[4][10][11][12]

6. Upgrade to MAYDAY if danger becomes grave

   If the boat is about to be driven onto rocks or swamped, or someone's life is at risk, press the DSC distress button and make a MAYDAY call on channel 16.[13][14][15][16]

7. Check the simple causes

   If it is safe, check the basics such as fuel. Running out of fuel is one of the most common reasons boaters call for help.[17][18]

8. Make yourself seen

   If you need help and have no radio, use distress signals: keep raising and lowering your outstretched arms, make a continuous sound signal, or fire flares when someone could see them.[19][20][21]

9. Keep listening

   Keep your radio on channel 16, wait for a response and follow the rescuers' instructions.[22][23]

Don't

• Don't anchor from the stern. It can swamp the boat.[24]
• Don't wait until you are in the breakers to call. Report a developing problem early with a PAN-PAN.[11]
• Don't fire flares when no one can see them. Save them for when there is a chance they will be seen.[21]
• Don't use channel 16 for chat or radio checks. It is for distress, urgency and calling.[25][26]

Before you sail

• Before you sail: check the engine, fluid levels, fuel and bilge, and use the one-third rule for fuel (out, back, reserve).[27][28]
• Carry an anchor with enough line for the depths you use. On a small boat, paddles or oars are an alternative way to move.[5][29]
• Tell someone ashore where you are going and when you will be back.[30]
• Carry a VHF radio, ideally with DSC, and know how to make PAN-PAN and MAYDAY calls.[31][32]

Frequently asked

Sources

1. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “have everyone onboard put on their lifejacket”
2. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Make sure everyone on board is wearing their life jacket.”
3. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “assess the situation”
4. Department of Transport, Western Australia (2026-10-14): “If you are unable to restart your vessel’s motor: Drop anchor to hold your position. Use your marine radio to make a Pan Pan call.”
5. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “Your vessel must have a way to control drifting in case you lose your engine. This can be an anchor with a length of rope, chain or cable, or any combination of these, that suits the size of the vessel.”
6. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “The general rule is five to seven times as much line as the depth of water plus the distance from the surface of the water to where the anchor will attach to the bow.”
7. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “It’s important to have the right anchor and cable for your boat. If you don’t, strong winds and water can cause the anchor to drag and let your boat drift or run aground.”
8. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Make sure your boat is well anchored and watch for signs of anchor dragging.”
9. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “If the engine fails, trail a sea anchor from the bow of the boat to keep it headed into the waves (a bucket can work as a sea anchor in an emergency).”
10. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Lost power, are safe but drifting towards an active shipping lane”
11. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “It is strongly recommended you report any situation that may present a danger to life, without delay. Early notification can be crucial to a positive outcome. You can use the PAN PAN radio signal for this purpose.”
12. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “If you are concerned about the safety of a person or vessel, you can send an urgency announcement using a DSC All Ships Urgency Call, nominating a working channel. Tune to Channel 16 to make the urgency call:”
13. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “Only to be used in the event of grave and imminent danger and assistance is required. Send a distress alert using digital selective calling (DSC), (press and hold the button until the alert is sent).”
14. Maritime and Coastguard Agency (HM Coastguard) (2026-10-14): “On receipt of a DSC acknowledgement or after about 15 seconds, transmit the distress call and message on Channel 16:”
15. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “MAYDAY indicates a person or vessel is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requests immediate help. PAN PAN indicates a safety problem that does not require immediate assistance.”
16. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “If your boat is sinking, someone is injured or life is in danger, immediately call VHF Channel 16 (the international maritime distress channel)”
17. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Motor problems, like running out of fuel, often lead to distress calls from boaters.”
18. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Check the gauges and fuel levels regularly.”
19. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Keep raising and lowering outstretched arms.”
20. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Make continuous sound with any fog-signalling device.”
21. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “Only use flares in an emergency when you believe there’s a chance it will be seen.”
22. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Monitor VHF channel 16 and local channels/the harbour master channel.”
23. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Release the PTT button and await a response.”
24. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Warning: Do not anchor from the stern as this could swamp the boat.”
25. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Channel 16 is the primary VHF-FM marine radio calling and distress channel. It should not be used for general conversation or radio checks.”
26. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “VHF radio channel 16 is only used for emergency and calling purposes.”
27. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Check your engine, fluid levels and bilge.”
28. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “Practice the “One-Third Rule” by using: One-third of the fuel to go out. One-third to get back. One-third held in reserve.”
29. Transport Canada – Small Commercial Vessel Safety Guide (TP 14070) (2026-10-14): “If your vessel is not more than 9 metres long, you may carry a paddle or two oars and rowlocks or any other device that can be used to propel the vessel manually instead of the anchor.”
30. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Plan your passage, and tell someone ashore where you're going and how long you'll be gone.”
31. RNLI (2026-10-14): “Have a means of calling for help, like a handheld VHF or mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.”
32. Transport Canada – Safe Boating Guide (TP 511E, 03/2026) (2026-10-14): “If your VHF radio has Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on channel 70, press the button to send a digital distress call.”
33. U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety – A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats (2026-10-14): “If a boater contacts the U.S. Coast Guard on Channel 16 VHF-FM or Digital Select Calling Channel 70 and the situation is determined to be non-distress, the Coast Guard will offer to contact any assistance provider (commercial or friend) the boater requests.”
34. Coastguard New Zealand (2026-10-14): “For non-urgent assistance such as an electrical problem or mechanical issue, call our Operations Centre”

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