Vessels operating in warm water whose routes are restricted to 20 miles from a harbor of safe refuge shall carry life floats or buoyant apparatus for not less than __________. (small passenger vessel regulations)

Correct Answer: Option D — 50% of all persons on board

46 CFR 117.200 mandates that for small passenger vessels operating in warm water within 20 miles of a harbor of safe refuge, life floats or buoyant apparatus must be provided for at least 50% of the total persons on board, reflecting the reduced risk in these specific operational environments.