I Did Not Know This About Life Jackets

[Bassn Blvd]

I'm not sure if this applies to every state, but it does in Florida. I was stopped the other day by Fish and Game. The officer was very professional while he did his job and inspected my boat. My uncle and I were the only ones in my boat so I needed two life jackets, right? Well, I had two life jackets, so I thought. My uncle was using my "vest" style jacket and I was using an " inflatable suspender" style jacket (like the Mustang). The officer told me that the "suspender" style jacket (unlike the vest style) is NOT considered a life jacket unless it is worn at all times. Once you take it off, it's no longer a life jacket.

In short, I needed to have a second "vest style" jacket in the boat if I wasn't going to wear the inflatable at all times. The officer didn't ticket me for the infraction, but schooled me none the less. And here I thought I knew everything

[A-Jay]

Here's some info:

From the Florida Boating site ~

Vessel Requirements

All recreational vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (life jacket) that is U.S. Coast Guard-approved and of the proper size for each person on board.

In addition to the above requirement, vessels 16 feet in length or longer must have one Type IV (throwable) USCG-approved personal flotation device on board and immediately available.

From the USCG ~

The United States Coast Guard PFD Specifications for

Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV, Type V, and Inflatable PFDs

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has developed specifications and criteria for approved personal flotation devices or PFDs as they are known. Every PFD will have a label or printing directly on the device identifying the Type of PFD, the size (or weight) individual it is designed for, and any other pertinent information. Below are the different specifications for each Type of PFD.

1. Type I PFD: Off-Shore Life Jacket

Type I PFDs provide the most buoyancy, are designed for offshore and rough water conditions. They come in two sizes, adult and child. The child size is designed with at least 11 pounds of buoyancy while the adult size has at least 22. The main functional feature of the Type I PFD is that it is designed to float unconscious victims in the face-up position.

2. Type II PFD: Near-Shore Life Jacket

Type II PFDs are intended for use in inland waters where there is a reasonable chance of a speedy rescue. These are your typical orange life jackets that are in the shape of a “U.” They fit over a person’s neck and come down on each side of the chest. Type II PFDs will usually turn some unconscious victims to a face-up position. These PFDs provide between 7 to 15.5 pounds of buoyancy, depending on infant to adult sizes.

3. Type III PFD: Flotation Aid

Type III PFDs are designed for inland conditions. These are usually the PFDs worn for specific activities such as fishing vests and kayaking life jackets. They are designed for comfort, continuous wear, and for maximum mobility. As such, they probably won’t turn the wearer to the face-up position in the water. Rather, they tend to float wearers in the vertical position. The definition of Type III PFDs usually contains the word “calm” to describe the water conditions they are meant for. This would be functionally incorrect as most whitewater PFDs, that is those worn by whitewater kayakers and whitewater canoeists, are Type III PFDs.

4. Type IV PFD: Throwable Device

Type IV PFDs are carried on boats as a device that can be thrown to a drowning person. These are either the circular rings found on commercial boats or around swimming pools. On recreational motor boats these take the form of seat cushion style devices. They are not meant to be worn.

5. Type V PFD: Special Use and Hybrid Devices

Type V PFDs are intended for specific activities and must be used in accordance with the specifications on their labels. Some of the features that may be included in these devices is hypothermia protection, inflatable portions, and work vests.

6. Inflatable PFDs: Types I-III

Inflatable PFDs are becoming more popular and prevalent. They are the most comfortable type of life jacket but they do have their downsides. Inflatable PFDs offer no flotation until they are inflated. They are not to be used where impact and high speeds are encountered as this can damage the inflation mechanism and in these conditions the person wearing the PFD may be knocked unconscious before they are able to deploy the inflation feature. These are also not recommended for use by children.

Inflatable PFDs are great for use in recreational kayaking and kayak fishing. They come in Type I, Type II, and Type III PFD specifications and are intended for use following the same guidelines.

[Bassn Blvd]

#6 is not considered a life jacket unless it's being worn from what I was told. If you're in your boat and #6 is the only jacket you have, then you better have it on. If not, then you can be ticketed for not having a life jacket.

[Gotfishyfingers?]

I think you were misinformed.Why would you have to wear any vest,regardless which one for it to be legal? I thought kids under a certain age were the only ones who had to wear a vest at all times? My mustang vest says its a type ll.

[jeb2]

#6 is not considered a life jacket unless it's being worn from what I was told. If you're in your boat and #6 is the only jacket you have, then you better have it on. If not, then you can be ticketed for not having a life jacket.

I pretty sure that is true nationally. It's a USCG law. Sorry you were caught unaware of it. It was certainly pointed out to me in several ways when I was in the market for my inflatable vest. I still carry enough "normal" vests in the boat to be legal no matter what, but I wear my Mustang 100% of the time I'm in any boat. That's the reason I bought it over another normal life jacket.

[Hi Salenity]

A life jacket can't be kept in one of your boat's storage compartments either. It must be easily accessible.

[scrutch]

This is very confusing. Like the above post, my Mustang vest says type II. As of now I haven't been able to find anywhere in Indiana's regulations that the inflatables count only if worn. To me, this means that if I have a vest that says USCG Approved Type II, it counts whether it is being worn or not. I'm gonna see my Conservation Officer buddy at church today and ask him (since he's the only one in our county that patrols our waters)

[SirSnookalot]

I'm in Florida and I see hundreds of boaters every week including myself. In the ocean the reality is hardly anyone ever wears one, now and then you see a child wearing one but that's rare too. We have been stopped for safety checks and life preservers are always checked, ours are stowed as most people I know do and that seems to be ok, never a mention of it by the FWC. I've thought about buying one to wear all the time but haven't pulled the trigger.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I think it actually goes by the "Type". I can't remember which "Type" is which, but you are correct in that one of them has to be worn to be considered a life vest. Inflatables also come in the "Type" that is treated like your regular vest.

[KU_Bassmaster.]

I just looked up the Kansas boating laws and a Type V must be worn at all times.

[NBR]

I can't spek for other states but here in NH an inflatable type life jacket must be worn to count as a PFD towards the number of people on board. I don't understand the why behind the law but then there are a lot of laws I don't understand.

[Bassn Blvd]

The game warden told me the reason why inflatables arent counted unless worn, but my dumb ars forgot. Anyway, I wear it all times when I'm by myself and not so much when I'm with someone.

[Al Wolbach]

The game warden told me the reason why inflatables arent counted unless worn, but my dumb ars forgot. Anyway, I wear it all times when I'm by myself and not so much when I'm with someone.

Because if the boat were to capsize they do not float unless inflated. If your boat sinks they want your life jackets to be on the surface of the water so hopefully you can reach them. I believe you can store your jackets in a compartment as long as it isn't locked/latched. This will allow the jackets to float to the surface if your boat sinks.

By the way this is federal law, US Coast Guard Regulations and does not differ from state to state.

[Pete-K]

Been using the SOS supenders for years, Bought a pair of them when they hit the market. And its always been you have to have these on for them to be legal.

Pete

[Hi Salenity]

This is from KDWP

Kansas law requires that all boats have one Type I, Type II, Type III, or Type V PFD of proper size, in serviceable condition, not in an enclosed compartment and readliy accessible for each person on board. Anyone 12 years old and younger must wear a life jacket at all times when on board a boat

[scrutch]

Because if the boat were to capsize they do not float unless inflated. If your boat sinks they want your life jackets to be on the surface of the water so hopefully you can reach them. I believe you can store your jackets in a compartment as long as it isn't locked/latched. This will allow the jackets to float to the surface if your boat sinks.

By the way this is federal law, US Coast Guard Regulations and does not differ from state to state.

An AUTOMATIC inflatable will be on the surface too if a boat capsizes. Maybe there is a stipulation between automatic and manual inflatables. Didn't run into the CO today, so I don't have any more answers. Still a little foggy. I'm doing more research.

[cedmonston]

The important thing isn't what style of jacket it is, but what the type is. If it is a type 1,2 or 3 it doesn't have to be worn to be legal. Only type 5 jackets need to be worn to be legal. This is the same for inflatable or foam vests. The best thing to do is look at the label of the jacket--it will tell you what type it is, and whether it needs to be worn for it to count. Some inflatable jackets look just like another--but one could be a type 2, and the other a type 5. You just can't tell by looking at them in many instances.

Many state boating officers aren't fully aware of the laws--but you always have what the law is on the life jacket label...

[Bassn Blvd]

The important thing isn't what style of jacket it is, but what the type is. If it is a type 1,2 or 3 it doesn't have to be worn to be legal. Only type 5 jackets need to be worn to be legal. This is the same for inflatable or foam vests. The best thing to do is look at the label of the jacket--it will tell you what type it is, and whether it needs to be worn for it to count. Some inflatable jackets look just like another--but one could be a type 2, and the other a type 5. You just can't tell by looking at them in many instances.

Many state boating officers aren't fully aware of the laws--but you always have what the law is on the life jacket label...

Exactly. I sure would like to the reason though.

And the reason isn't if the boat capsizes. Automatic inflatable should inflate once it hits the water, DUH, rather it's worn or not.

[J Francho]

Not necessarily. There both auto and manual inflate. Any auto inflate must be submerged while being worn in order to work. It says all this right on the PFD, if it's a USCG approved jacket.

[cedmonston]

At one point in time only manually inflated jackets were approved, as a type 3. Then automatically inflated jackets were approved as a type 5-the reason being that it was felt that automatics, having more intricate inflation mechanisms, were more complicated and therefore should be worn to be legal. (and yes, automatics can also be manually inflated, before it hits the water.) That would have been an easy rule to remember-manuals are type 3, autos are type 5 and have to be worn. but then type 2 autos came along, and new jacket designs came along, and then the rule just kind of went away. Now you have no real way of knowing what a jacket is unless you look at the label.

[Bassn Blvd]

Not necessarily. There both auto and manual inflate. Any auto inflate must be submerged while being worn in order to work. It says all this right on the PFD, if it's a USCG approved jacket.

So it says on the jacket that it has to be worn to be legal?

[J Francho]

Mine says, "USCG Approved Type ..[blah, blah, blah] when worn." on the USCG stamp inside.

[cedmonston]

Yes, the label will say whether or not it has to be worn to count for carriage requirements. It will look something like this...

Notice this is for a type 3 jacket, and there's nothing that says it has to be worn to count towards requirements.

[Al Wolbach]

Exactly. I sure would like to the reason though.

And the reason isn't if the boat capsizes. Automatic inflatable should inflate once it hits the water, DUH, rather it's worn or not.

You are correct it is not if the boat capsizes, I was wrong. Must have had a brain cramp. It's probably due to the amount of floation in the inflatable as this varies from jacket to jacket and/or how long it will keep you afloat. A jacket also receives a higher rating if it will keep your head out of the water in case you are unconscious...................Al

[bigbassctchr101]

I think you were misinformed.Why would you have to wear any vest,regardless which one for it to be legal? I thought kids under a certain age were the only ones who had to wear a vest at all times? My mustang vest says its a type ll.

The way I understand this is... You don't have to wear it. But if you have a regular vest style and an inflatable laying out, then technically you only have one life jacket. For the inflatable to be considered a life preserver, it must be worn. Otherwise, have two jackets in your boat for two people, and you won't have to wear them.