Life Jacket Laws

[Hlleonard]

Thought this information might keep someone from getting a ticket. Me and a couple of friends went to Green River Lake fishing on Saturaday and was checked by the KDFW. We always where our life jackets while running from place to place and then take them off while we are fishing. We were checked while fishing. They checked license, livewells, fire extingisher, throw cushion, horn, and ect. Then they counted the life jackets out and noticed we had three but asked if we had any more on board the boat, we did in one of the compartments.They asked to see it, it was the standard type I. I have an inflatable type life jacket and they noticed I wasnt wearing it. They said to be legal you must have the inflatable type on at all times while on the water unless you have another one of the standard type I ,II, or III on board. If all three of us had the inflatable types and didnt have them on then we would have to of had 3 of the type I, II, or III on board to be legal. After looking closer at my inflatable it says it must be worn to be legal on the tag. Just thought this might help I didnt know this and have been boating for 35 years. I have only had my inflatable for about 3 years. I assume this will be the law in all states because it is a coast guard approved jacket.

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I have used these for a couple of years but never read the information that came with them fully... I just read the thing and it looks like maybe it is acceptable in a recreational capacity the same as the others but when used on a commercial vessel it has to be worn to be legal... I didn't find anything in the boating guide that specifies the difference... Has anybody else seen this anywhere?

[slimshad09]

Watched the tv guys take them off all the time. Citizens arrest!!

[sweetwater]

Watched the tv guys take them off all the time. Citizens arrest!!

Nip it in the bud.

[KyBass1]

I was thinking that if you fell in with one on and it inflated like it should, wouldn`t it not be usable again until you re armed it? Then you would have to have another pfd for you after you got back in the boat. So you probably need the same number of pfds as inflatables in the boat. KB1.

[Hlleonard]

I was thinking that if you fell in with one on and it inflated like it should, wouldn`t it not be usable again until you re armed it? Then you would have to have another pfd for you after you got back in the boat. So you probably need the same number of pfds as inflatables in the boat. KB1.

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I guess you are right, I never thought of that....I guess I will start keeping a regular life vest with me... If you get checked after you have fallen overboard you would probably get a ticket...

[stratos185]

I was thinking that if you fell in with one on and it inflated like it should, wouldn`t it not be usable again until you re armed it? Then you would have to have another pfd for you after you got back in the boat. So you probably need the same number of pfds as inflatables in the boat. KB1.

I use the Stearns inflatables and that is why I carry a couple of rearming kits with me in the boat at all times. I can rearm a pfd in about 15 minutes.

[sweetwater]

I was thinking that if you fell in with one on and it inflated like it should, wouldn`t it not be usable again until you re armed it? Then you would have to have another pfd for you after you got back in the boat. So you probably need the same number of pfds as inflatables in the boat. KB1.

I hadn't thought of this either but it makes perfect sense to me.

[diversified]

Not sure, but i may have a answer. My step daughter works for the COE at lake Cumberland and i ask her this question. She is one of the people that promotes the use of PFD and safety. Her response is, when the law was made the theory was that while in the water that you could put on a vest and get it buckled, however, when a inflatable expands it is so tight and buoyant that it is nearly impossible to put it on while in the water.

[dac]

Not all auto-inflatables must be worn at all times to count as a life jacket. Some auto inflatables state that on recreational vessels they are a Type II, and do not have to be worn to count. They also state that on commercial vessels, they are a type 5 and must be worn at all times to count. This is the case with my Mustange auto inflatable. Read the label to know for sure.