PFD on a kayak- laws

[Craig P]

Before I bought my boat I fished out of a Hobie Outback for quite a few years in both Pa waters and NJ saltwater.  No matter how good of a swimmer you are, too many things can happen, like a boat running you over, it happens. If you’re knocked unconscious, goodbye.  It’s not about you, it’s about the people you are leaving to mourn you.

[WRB]

California law doesn’t require you to wear a PFD in a kayak, you must have a  wearable type 1,2,3 or 5 for each person. 

Tom

 

[Bassin Bruce]

In NYS you're not required to wear one but you must have one with you. I payed a lot of money for the PFD so I'm going to get my nickel out of it and wear it as intended.

[Jmilburn76]

I wear mine 100% of the time while on the water, no exceptions. Having said that, its super comfortable and its technically another tool for me to utilize while fishing.

 

I have a whistle attached to small tether that also holds my keys in a small chest pocket.I keep my wallet in another, my cell phone tethered to the PFD and in another pocket. I have some hemostats tethered on the outside and attached  at the top a boomerang braid cutter.

 

So worst case scenario is I fall out and my kayak is swept away I still have ID, phone and my keys on me regardless. Id feel lost without my Chinook!

[the reel ess]

SC state laws require one on board for any passenger on any craft. But adults are not required to have one on. I usually fish private waters and don't wear one. I don't care what anyone says. I'm a grown man and I'll do as I please.

[schplurg]

I wear my PFD in the yak at all times, but it's hard for me to condemn other people for not wearing them. I think forbidding photos without them on a forum is going too far, as dumb as not wearing one may be.

 

When I was a kid we'd swim the local lakes, bring rafts and screw around and we never had life vests (we weren't using as many acronyms back then either). If I was at my Dad's lake right now I wouldn't wear a PFD to jump in the water off his dock or float around on a raft.

 

If I had a paddle board back then there's no way I'd have worn a vest. Would anyone here who was a kid 40 or more years ago? Almost nobody wore them in boats either and most still don't.

 

But I wore a seat belt in my car at 16 when it was still legal not to. I do the same in my yak with the PFD now.

 

On the other hand, I watched a few of B-Lats recent Youtube videos and cringed while he and his 2 year old son were on deck fishing. The kid had thick pants and a sweater on, it was windy and a bit wavy, not too bad. No PFD on him. Two years old.

 

Brian was doing a video and you could hear and see his (totally cute btw) son running around the deck. Brian had his back to him most of the time. That kid could have been gone in a second, especially in that dirty water.

 

I thought that was so stupid but I didn't want to be "that guy" and comment there, so I am here LOL. Later in one video, Mom came on board and the kid had a full vest on. That to me was very dumb, sorry B.

[WRB]

Thinking about this thread I tried to think back if ever seeing a kayaker without wearing a PFD?

We were staying Mission Bay San Diego a week ago and lots of kayaks fishing the bay and marinas...all had PFD on. 

Jet skies it’s a toss up, most wear PFD’s some don’t. Paddle boarders is also a toss up, most don’t.

Kayaks with anglers aboard seem to me to be safety concuss. 

I don’t like to wear PFD’s bass fishing and running boats and only do it because it’s the right thing to do. Tournament fishing it’s a must. Racing it’s a must to wear PFD’s. 

Fall out of a boat, hit your head and die without a PFD. I know this but....

I am so old now everyone makes me put a PFD on, I feel like child but wear it.

Tom

[VolFan]

Timely: https://amp.naplesnews.com/amp/7294524001

 

This happened yesterday on the Estero River near my in-laws house. We were literally at the spot where the drowning occurred less than 30 min before the drowning. The River there is more of a big ditch, less than 30 feet across, almost zero current, and you have to work to find water more than 4 feet deep. We almost have to have seen/talked to the person that drowned, and they may have been part of the group that switched into the two tandems we returned right around noon. It is a really creep feeling.

[FishTank]

In Indiana we are required to were one when your in a kayak.  We are also required to have a throwable pfd on board all water vessels.  

 

In a kayak, you should wear it at all times. I heard and read too many horror stories. 

[dickenscpa]

23 hours ago, BassNJake said:

TN just requires one per person on the vessel. (kayak or canoe)

 

I would venture to guess that in most boat related drownings

The required pfd's were onboard and could have saved a life if they were worn.

I "think" that one pfd per person only has to be worn if in a boat and the motor is running. Not 100% sure on that or the laws pertaining to kids. In a KBF tourney it has to be on at all times.

 

I wasn't sure if it was mandatory but my kids were ALWAYS gonna have theirs on and whether I'm in a kayak tournament or not I wear mine. Me, wife and two kids now have our own kayaks and if we go out there's no discussion. PFDs at all times.

 

I rode Harleys up until about 11 mos ago since 1999. In TN we have a helmet law. 35 miles north from us in KY, no helmet required. I'd ride with a group and as soon as we crossed that state line we'd pull over and half of them stowed their helmet. I guess they thought pavement was softer 35 miles north.

[Zcoker]

Here in Florida the statutes require those in kayaks and canoes to have on board a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II or III PFD. Children under the age of 6 must wear a PFD while under way. In my opinion, I would not even attempt to second guess the use of a life jacket while on a kayak, no matter what. Even though one may feel strong and invincible, there's always a possibility that circumstances can dish out a totally unexpected blow. And even though one may think themselves a good swimmer, one good knock on the head and you'd better pray that there's something around to keep ya afloat! 

[flyfisher]

On 4/12/2022 at 4:34 PM, dgkasper58 said:

100% correct- but I just meant the threat of drowning is always there Boats/Kayaks/Swimming/PWC/Paddleboat/PaddleBoard all carry the risk. But I definitely see your point.

 

I was in one last year a few times and could tell it was tippy.  Ended up buying a sportsman 120 pdl this year due to its stability and been out only once but felt like I was in a jon boat (was wearing a neoprene vest)

 

That is why I kind of asked this question since I see about 50/50 pfd use (with Fisherman) on the lakes I frequent. Pretty much 0% from the adults getting their daily workout in but most of the kids in their $300 yaks have em on. 

 

Just wondering what are your thoughts with the manual/auto inflate on the kayak? 

 

Cold water is terrible! Glad he was OK.

Aboslutely love it.  Mine isn't a hydrostatice one but it will be my next PFD purchase when I need it.  I have heard lots of peopel say the standard pill dissolve style will go off in rain and all I can say is I have been in absolute downpours fishing through a squall or paddling back to the ramp and it has never gone off.  The one time when I did it I wondered if it was broken or something so I jumped in the water at the ramp and it went off like normal.  

[Koz]

I can't imagine why someone would be in a kayak without a PFD.

 

I wear mine all of the time. Sometimes it gets uncomfortable, but it's better than the alternative.

[TnRiver46]

15 minutes ago, Koz said:

I can't imagine why someone would be in a kayak without a PFD.

 

I wear mine all of the time. Sometimes it gets uncomfortable, but it's better than the alternative.

I’ve taken mine off plenty in the summer. Not proud of it or anything, but I’ve done it. Got hot. I’ll pull the kayak on the rocks and swim around in some shoals without it in summer, maybe snorkel down and look at fish. Deep Lakes I just keep it on and sweat 

[casts_by_fly]

14 hours ago, Koz said:

I can't imagine why someone would be in a kayak without a PFD.

 

I wear mine all of the time. Sometimes it gets uncomfortable, but it's better than the alternative.

 

I know this won't be popular opinion, but I rarely wear mine.  Cold water, rough/busy water, moving water yes.  Most of the lakes and times I'm fishing are flat and still smaller water with either electric only or 9.9 hp restrictions.  The kayak I'm in is so stable that I actually can't flip it.  So the only way for me to get into the water would be having a medical condition and passing out/falling out (I'm young and healthy so that risk is low), hitting something I can't see at 'high' speed while standing (mitigate by not running full speed while standing), or a rogue wave that comes out of nowhere.  I consider all of these risks to be low enough that I'm comfortable not wearing one most of the time.

 

Water under 50, busy lakes with power boats, and any moving water are a completely different story.

 

thanks,

rick

[Darth-Baiter]

I have friends that don’t wear them. Most are ex surfers that think they are Aquaman.  
 

I wear mine.  I have issues of approaching a panicked person in the water with my kayak.  I think the danger of them sending me in the water is real.  If they don’t have a pfd and they are panicking.   Yikes.  Cuidado!  
 

in addition I have friends that won’t wear harnesses in tree stands.  At least that’s a solo event that won’t risk me when I rescue them. 

[Choporoz]

2 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

 I have issues of approaching a panicked person in the water with my kayak.  I think the danger of them sending me in the water is real. 

Never thought about that, but it seems unlikely where I fish.  However, I have gotten rather anxious a few times when big dogs were swimming towards me

[Darth-Baiter]

1 minute ago, Choporoz said:

Never thought about that, but it seems unlikely where I fish.  However, I have gotten rather anxious a few times when big dogs were swimming towards me

Yea. I’m thinking the ocean mainly.  Haha.  But some big lakes freak out people.  I once told a guy we were in 140 feet of water, and turned white. He would have panicked.  For sure. 

[Bankc]

5 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I have friends that don’t wear them. Most are ex surfers that think they are Aquaman.  
 

I wear mine.  I have issues of approaching a panicked person in the water with my kayak.  I think the danger of them sending me in the water is real.  If they don’t have a pfd and they are panicking.   Yikes.  Cuidado!  
 

in addition I have friends that won’t wear harnesses in tree stands.  At least that’s a solo event that won’t risk me when I rescue them. 

This is true.  One of the two people I know who have drowned was trying to rescue a little girl from a river.  He managed to save the girl, but couldn't save himself.  Swimming against the current with a panicked child the whole time wore him out, and it took every bit of strength he had to push her up onto the dock.  He never surfaced from that.

 

I remember taking swimming lessons as a Boy Scout (I already knew how to swim, but this was for a merit badge).  They taught us how to swim to rescue someone in the water, where you can support their weight and tow them safely.  Then they taught us never to do that to a conscious person, because they will likely panic and pull you under with them.  They told us to throw them a line or a pole or something instead.  

 

Oh!  And another weird Oklahoma law: within Oklahoma City limits, you're not required to wear or even have a PFD on you if you're in a racing kayak, racing shell, or rowing scull.  They made a little carve out because sometimes the "Oklahoma River" (which is what we call the Canadian river where it's within OKC city limits) is host to the practice facilities and several racing events and trials for the U.S. National kayak, scull and shell racing teams.  But the carve out doesn't apply to just that section of river (which is tightly controlled with a bunch of locks and dams), but to any body of water in OKC.  Also, it never explicitly defines what a racing kayak is.  So you might have some legal jujitsu to get around wearing a PFD in your kayak in OKC, depending on how good your lawyer is.  

[casts_by_fly]

11 hours ago, Bankc said:

I remember taking swimming lessons as a Boy Scout (I already knew how to swim, but this was for a merit badge).  They taught us how to swim to rescue someone in the water, where you can support their weight and tow them safely.  Then they taught us never to do that to a conscious person, because they will likely panic and pull you under with them.  They told us to throw them a line or a pole or something instead.  

reach, throw, row, go

 

if you can reach someone then lay down on the dock or bank and reach out.  If not, throw them a line.  If they are too far or a line isn’t there then row (or paddle) a boat out to them. Lastly, if none are available then go yourself (with some kind of floatation) if your are able and trained to do so. A panicked swimmer will do anything they can to keep their head above water even if that means pushing you under. 
 

sounds like the lifesaving merit badge, not basic swimming. I was camp counselor for a while in all aquatic disciplines.  Also a trainer lifeguard under various agencies for a bunch of years. 

[waymont]

Wear it every time, every second your on your kayak.

[DogBone_384]

I'm sure it's required in Massachusetts.  I wear mine, regardless.

[K1500]

Regardless of your position in wearing PFD’s at all times, the auto/manual inflatable PFD’s are a game changer as far as all day wearable comfort is concerned. I will sometimes recover the boat and be stowing gear and pulling the drain plug before I remember to take mine off. They may not be as ‘good’ as a foam PFD in the water, but an inflatable you wear is far better than a foam jacket you stow. 

[crypt]

On 4/12/2022 at 12:08 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Wear it! 

this...even if your Michael Phelps....

[Crankin4Bass]

I always wear my NRS Chinook while kayaking. I don't even notice it anymore and the pockets are awesome. 

 

I had a friend who refused to wear a PFD. He was fishing in a canoe with another friend and they tipped over when he missed a hookset. He got caught up in milfoil and drowned. It took a couple days to locate his body.