Section 169.515 - Number required(a) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, each vessel must have sufficient lifeboats or inflatable liferafts to accommodate all persons on board.(b) Each vessel certificated for exposed waters must have additional inflatable liferafts to accommodate 25% of the persons on board or the number of persons accommodated in the largest lifeboat or liferaft, whichever is greater.(c) Vessels certificated for protected waters only may carry lifefloats of a combined capacity to accommodate all persons on board in lieu of the lifeboats and inflatable liferafts required in paragraph (a) of this section.