LIFE JACKETS

The life jacket is the single most important piece of safety gear for any boater. The U. S. Coast Guard estimates over 70% of boaters who drown in a boating incident would have survived if they had only worn a life jacket. Isn’t that reason enough to buy a good quality life jacket and always wear it? Boating is a sport and having good quality gear is important for everyone onboard the boat.

There must be a wearable USCG-approved life jacket (Type I, II, or III or V) for each person on a boat. The life jacket must be of the appropriate size for the intended wearer, in good and serviceable condition (no rips/tears, etc.), and readily accessible. In addition, there must be an immediately available throwable (Type IV personal flotation device) on boats 16-feet and greater in length (except vessels involved in river running activities).

Mandatory Wear Requirements

• Each person onboard a PWC, which is underway, must wear a USCG-approved non-inflatable Type I, II, III or V Hybrid life jacket. Check the PFD label for details. "Underway" shall mean at all times except when a vessel is anchored, moored, made fast to the shore, or aground.
• On water under the jurisdiction of the USCG (federal navigable waters), children under the age of 13 must wear a PFD at all times when the recreational boat is underway unless the child is in an enclosed cabin or below decks. NOTE – if there is an existing state law, the USCG will enforce the current state law, even if it is for younger children or only on certain size boats.
• A PFD is required while being pulled/towed (skiing, wakeboarding, tubing, etc.).

Other Situations

The best option is to always wear a life jacket, however, the smart boater will definitely wear a life jacket anytime there is a chance of the following:

• High boat traffic – increased boat traffic elevates the risk of collision.
• Severe weather – high seas and winds increase the chance of capsizings and swamping.
• Dangerous water conditions – swift water, especially at or near low-head dams, creates unsafe conditions and needs to be avoided.
• Dangerous local conditions – rip tides, water intakes and discharges, shoaling and unmarked hazards are of concern when boating in unfamiliar waters.
• When off-shore – the further away from land you travel, the greater the need to wear a PFD.
• Operating at night – night boating presents hazards such as unseen floating objects, difficult visibility and unlit structures.
• When boating alone – always consider wearing a PFD when boating solo as there is no one available to assist you should you end up in the water. Attempting to put on a vest after you are in the water is a tiring, extremely difficult maneuver, especially in a situation where the water is cold, or the waves are high, and you are experiencing a life-threatening situation.

According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, most boating fatalities occur on calm waters on inland lakes, ponds and streams.

Life Jackets - Selecting the Right One

Life jackets come in a variety of shapes, colors and materials. Some are made for rugged use while others are made to protect you from cold water. No matter which life jacket you choose, be sure to get one that is right for you, your planned activities, and the water conditions you expect to encounter. Remember, spending a little time now may save your life later.

Read the inside label of a life jacket for restrictions, size, weight, and USCG approval. Most life jackets are made for general boating activities, but some are only for specific activities. Read the label to ensure the life jacket is appropriate for the intended wearer and activity.

Inherently Buoyant PFDs are foam filled and will float without any additional action by the wearer.

Inflatable PFDs have CO2 filled bladders. Manual inflatables require action by the wearer. Automatic inflation devices inflate without action by the wearer. Made in adult sizes only (at least 16 years of age and more than 80 pounds). Not recommended for non-swimmers. Not for water sports like skiing and white water or for personal watercraft.

Hybrid PFDs – combines foam and inflatable air bladder for extra life. Adult and child sizes. Non-swimmers can use.

The Correct Fit

Select a life jacket for the activity you will be participating in. Many large stores  sell life jackets, as well as marine retail stores. Follow these steps to ensure the life jacket you select fits properly:

• Put on the life jacket, ensuring all straps, zippers and ties are fastened firmly and correctly.
• Raise your arms over your head (reach for the sky).
• Have someone firmly lift the life jacket straight up by the shoulders.
• The life jacket must stay in place. If it rises above your nose or mouth, so will water! 

Test Your PFD

• Test your life jacket in the shallow end of a pool or shallow water to see how you float. Children should always be watched closely.
• Relax and let your head tilt slightly back.
• The life jacket must keep your chin above water.
• A life jacket that is too large may slip off and float away.

Types of Life Jackets

Choosing a life jacket you will wear for your planned activity is important. The type of life jacket you choose depends on the activity in which you are participating, such as water skiing, riding on a PWC, or fishing 30-miles off-shore. All new life jackets come with a product information brochure explaining what type of life jacket it is, what the advantages and disadvantages are and how to care for the product. Always check the label to determine the type level of your life jacket and if it is the appropriate size for the intended wearer.

A life jacket may also be referred to as a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). The best life jacket is the one people will wear.

Inflatable life jackets are rated at different Type levels (I, II, III or V). There are two basic designs of inflatable life jackets; one stage and two stage. A one stage inflatable means the jacket is worn over the shoulder, and when the jacket inflates, it is on the wearer and ready to use. A two stage inflatable is first inflated, and then the person must place the life jacket over his or her head. Waist packs and waist belts are two stage inflatable life jackets. There are two big advantages to using inflatable life jackets: (1) they are lightweight and comfortable (meaning you’re more likely to wear them) and (2) they take up only about 1/6th the amount of storage space on your boat when compared to the traditional foam filled life jackets. Like all life jackets, the inflatables do require a certain amount of care and maintenance to ensure they are in good and serviceable condition should you ever need to deploy them.

INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS ARE NOT TO BE WORN BY ANYONE UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE, PERSONAL WATERCRAFT RIDERS, SKIERS/TUBERS/WAKEBOARDERS, OR WHILE BOATING IN WHITEWATER.     

Inherently buoyant life jackets are rated at different Type levels (I, II, III or V) and float without any action by the wearer. They are made of a buoyant material such as foam or neoprene.  Foam filled life jackets generally have an outer shell made of nylon. They are worn over the shoulder and are fastened to the wearer by a zipper, buckles, ties or a combination of fasteners. 

The US Coast Guard classifies life jackets into 5 “Types”, with each Type having special features. Types I, II, III and V are “wearable” life jackets, while the Type IV is a “throwable” device such as a seat cushion or ring buoy.         

U. S. Coast Guard recreational boating statistics show approximately seventy (70) percent of all fatal boating accident deaths are caused by drowning. Of those who drowned, approximately ninety (90) percent of the victims were not wearing their life jacket. In fact, in a recent 10 year period, life jackets were not worn in 82% of all fatal accidents. Citations and fines are issued to boat operators who fail to carry sufficient PFDs or are found carrying improper life jackets for the number and types of passengers on board.

Serviceability Requirements

No PFD may exhibit deterioration that could diminish the performance of the PFD, including:

• Metal or plastic hardware used to secure the PFD that is broken, deformed, or weakened by corrosion;
• Webbings or straps used to secure the PFD on the wearer that are ripped, torn, or which have become separated from an attachment point on the PFD; or
• Any other rotted or deteriorated structural component that fails when tugged.
• Rips, tears, or open seams in fabric or coatings;
• Buoyant material that has become hardened, non-resilient, permanently compressed, waterlogged, oil-soaked, or which shows evidence of fungus or mildew; or
• Loss of buoyant material or buoyant material that is not securely held in position.

In addition to meeting the requirements above, an inflatable PFD, including the inflatable components of a hybrid inflatable PFD, must be equipped with:

• A properly armed inflation mechanism, complete with a full inflation CO2 cartridge and all status indicators showing that the inflation mechanism is properly armed:
• Inflatable chambers that are all capable of holding air;
• Oral inflation tubes that are not blocked, detached, or broken;
• A manual inflation lanyard or lever that is not inaccessible, broken, or missing;
• Inflator status indicator that is not broken or otherwise non-functional.
• The inflation system of an inflatable PFD need not be armed when the PFD is worn inflated and meets the rest of the requirements.

Carriage Requirements

As stated before, there must be a wearable life jacket (Type I, II, or III or V) for each person on the boat, USCG approved, and of the appropriate size for the intended wearer. In addition, there must be an immediately available throwable (Type IV) on boats 16-feet and greater in length.

• Type I, II, or III wearable PFDs must be readily accessible unless it is required to be worn.

"Readily Accessible" means the PFDs are stowed where they can be easily reached, or are out in the open ready for wear. A readily accessible PFD cannot be in a protective covering or under lock and key.

• Type IV throwable PFDs must be immediately available.

"Immediately available" means the PFD shall be quickly reachable in an emergency situation. An immediately available PFD cannot be in a protective covering, in a closed compartment or under other equipment.

• Type V PFDs must meet labeling requirements stamped on the inside of the PFD. In most cases, the Type V PFD must be worn in order for it to meet the legal carriage requirements.

Children Must Wear PFDs

No person shall operate a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel that is 26 feet or less in length, unless every person on board who is 11 years of age or less is wearing a type I, II, III, or V Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while that motorboat, sailboat, or vessel is underway.

Does not apply to a person operating a sailboat on which a person who is 11 years of age or less is restrained by a harness tethered to the vessel, or to a person operating a vessel on which a person who is 11 years of age or less is in an enclosed cabin.

• Any person on board a personal watercraft or any person being towed behind a vessel on water skis, an aquaplane, or similar device, except for any underwater maneuvering device intended for use by a submerged swimmer, shall wear a type I, II, III, or V Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device. An underwater maneuvering device is any towed or self-powered apparatus that a person can pilot through diving, turning, and surfacing maneuvers that is designed for underwater use.
• In lieu of wearing a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device of a type described, any person engaged in slalom skiing on a marked course or any person engaged in barefoot, jump, or trick waterskiing may elect to wear a wetsuit designed for the activity and labeled by the manufacturer as a water ski wetsuit.
• A Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device of a type described in this subdivision shall be carried in the tow vessel for each skier electing to wear a water ski wetsuit pursuant to this paragraph.

The requirements do not apply to a person operating a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel if the operator is reacting to an emergency rescue situation.