Chapter 4: The Legal Requirements of Boating
Personal Flotation Devices (Life Jackets)

All vessels must be equipped with U.S. Coast Guard–approved life jackets, called personal flotation devices (PFDs). The quantity and type depend on the length of your vessel and the number of people on board and/or being towed. Each PFD must be in good condition, be the proper size for the intended wearer, and very importantly, be readily accessible! Readily accessible means you must be able to put the PFD on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.). PFDs should not be stowed in plastic bags or in locked or closed compartments, and they should not have other gear stowed on top of them.

Vessel operators should ask everyone on their vessel to wear a PFD whenever on the water. PFDs can save lives, but only if they are worn!

Everyone should wear a life jacket, especially anyone who is boating:

At night or alone
In dangerous water conditions, far from shore, or in areas with local hazards
Where there is high boat traffic
In cold water
While hunting or fishing

PFD Requirements

All vessels must have at least one USCG–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD (life jacket) for each person on board.
In addition to the above requirement, one Type IV (throwable) USCG–approved PFD must be on board vessels 16 feet or longer.
All PFDs must be in good and serviceable condition. Read more about this requirement.
All PFDs must be readily accessible and of the proper size for the intended wearer. Sizing for PFDs is based on body weight and chest size.
While underway on a recreational vessel on the Mississippi River, Missouri River, or federal reservoirs, a child under 13 years old must wear a USCG–approved PFD unless the child is below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
Each person being towed behind a vessel on water skis, a surfboard, or similar device must wear a USCG– approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD. Inflatable PFDs are not approved for persons being towed.
Each person on board a personal watercraft (PWC) must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD. Inflatable PFDs are not approved for use on PWCs.

PFD Descriptions	Illustrations
TYPE I: Offshore Life Jackets These vests are geared for rough or remote waters where rescue may take awhile. They provide the most buoyancy, are excellent for flotation, and will turn most unconscious persons face up in the water.
TYPE II: Near-Shore Vests These vests are good for calm waters when quick assistance or rescue is likely. Type II vests will turn some unconscious wearers face up in the water, but the turning is not as pronounced as with a Type I.
TYPE III: Flotation Aids These vests or full-sleeved jackets are good for calm waters when quick assistance or rescue is likely. They are not recommended for rough waters since they will not turn most unconscious persons face up. Type III PFDs are used for water sports such as water-skiing. Some Type III PFDs are designed to inflate when you enter the water.
TYPE IV: Throwable Devices/Not Wearable These cushions and ring buoys are designed to be thrown to someone in trouble. Since a Type IV PFD is not designed to be worn, it is neither for rough waters nor for persons who are unable to hold onto it.
TYPE V: Special-Use Devices These vests, deck suits, hybrid PFDs, and others are designed for specific activities such as windsurfing, kayaking, or water-skiing. Some Type V PFDs are designed to inflate when you enter the water. To be acceptable, Type V PFDs must be worn and used in accordance with their label.