What type of backfire prevention equipment is required for powerboats fueled with gasoline?

Backfire flame arrestors are vital components for gasoline-powered boats as they are specifically designed to prevent flames from escaping the engine compartment in the event of a backfire. When the air-fuel mixture ignites in the intake manifold, the flame arrestor works by cooling and extinguishing the flame before it can propagate through the ventilation system and into the open atmosphere where it could pose a fire hazard. This equipment helps ensure safety on the water by reducing the risk of fires, which can be especially dangerous in confined spaces like a boat's engine compartment.

The other options, while important to boat operation and maintenance, do not specifically serve the same purpose as backfire flame arrestors. Exhaust manifolds are essential for managing exhaust gases but do not prevent backfires. Hull protectors help safeguard the structure of the boat but are unrelated to fire hazards. Gasoline filters are critical for maintaining fuel quality but do not address the immediate risk of backfire flames escaping into the boat’s atmosphere.