Are boaters or rafters required to wear life jackets
Are boaters or rafters required to wear life jackets — Children fourteen and under must wear an approved life jacket when they are aboard a boat 19 feet in length or less whenever the boat is underway or under power. This applies to manually propelled boats such as canoes and rafts in addition to powerboats, sailboats, personal watercraft (jet skis) and fishing float tubes. Also, the right kind of personal floatation device must be on board the motorboat or paddle craft and within quick reach for adults. That is, they must say “Coast Guard Approved” on the label, be the right fit for the person on board, be the kind you wear (not a cushion or ring buoy) and in like new condition. Stored under the seat or in a dry bag is not considered within quick reach. Of course, just like a seat belt during an auto accident, a life jacket won’t do you much good if you don’t have it on BEFORE you fall overboard. If you have a boat sixteen feet or longer you also need a Type IV floatation aid which is designed to be thrown, not worn (like a ring buoy). Non-powered canoes and kayaks do not have to carry the Type IV ring buoy or personal floatation aid, by federal exemption.
