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!

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 requirement for life jackets, one Type IV (throwable) USCG–approved PFD must be on board vessels 16 feet or longer.
Children under 12 years old must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD whenever above deck on any vessel underway.
All persons on board a personal watercraft (PWC) must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD at all times.
All persons water-skiing or being towed in any manner must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, or III PFD at all times.
All persons on board a canoe or kayak from January 1 to May 15 or from September 15 to December 31 must wear a USCG–approved Type I, II, or III PFD at all times.
All PFDs must be in good condition, legibly marked with the USCG–approval number, and readily accessible. Wearable PFDs must be the proper size for the intended wearer. Sizing is based on body weight and chest size.

Read and follow the label restrictions on all PFDs.

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.