I had a discussion with the CO at Hardy

I fished Hardy last Sunday, right as we were getting ready to get off the water a CO came by and asked to check our fishing licenses. Not a problem, then he asked to see our life jackets, not a problem, until.... I had pulled one standard life jacket out and then the throwable seat cushion and then showed him my manual inflateable waist belt. I asked if that was approved and I said yes " it is USGA approved, says so right on the belt." I even pointed it out to him, I told him I would have never bought the belt had it not said that. This belt is the same concept as the suspender style that most guys were in tournaments. I thought this was even better, however, there was no "type" posted on the belt. Lesson learned, all PFD's must be Type 1,2,3 or 5. The cushion was a type 4. Also, the manually deployed suspender style is only a legal PFD if you are wearing it. I did not know any of this. CO was nice about the whole situation, I will be dishing out more cash now to upgrade. Hopefully this will save you from buying the belt style without checking to make sure it is legal. best of luck

correction "he asked if it was approved and I said yes" sorry about that

Goes to show you that the CO's are not as bad as some make them out to be. I have been checked about a dozen times in 4 different states over the years and have never had a problem with any of them. Always helpful and will answer any question you have. Just my experience.

Joe

[QUOTE=Fisherjoe;376563]Goes to show you that the CO's are not as bad as some make them out to be. I have been checked about a dozen times in 4 different states over the years and have never had a problem with any of them. Always helpful and will answer any question you have. Just my experience.

Joe[/QUOTE]

Everyone has different encounters though. That goes with everything.

CO's have a job to do just like everyone else. I've run into the occational one that seemed to me abuses his or her authority. Interupted a good fishing hole, and all that. Report the bad ones in my opinion. It is their job to ask for liscences, life jackets, extinguisher, lights, and all of that. It is an imposition, but it is their jobs. Their job is to keep you safe.