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, except sailboards, must have at least one USCG–approved Type I, II, or III PFD (life jacket) for each person on board or being towed.
• In addition to the above requirement, a vessel 16 feet up to 40 feet long must have on board one USCG–approved Type IV PFD. A vessel 40 feet or longer must carry two Type IV PFDs, with one device stored in the front and another stored in the rear of the vessel. Also, vessels 26 feet and longer must have 30 feet of throwing line (or rope) attached to each required Type IV PFD.
• All PFDs must be in good condition, be legibly marked with the USCG approval number, and be readily accessible. A personal flotation device is considered readily accessible if:
  • It is being worn or …
  • It is stowed where it is quickly reachable and is ready to wear, out of its original packaging, and not under lock and key.
• Wearable PFDs must be of the proper size for the intended wearer. Sizing is based on body weight and chest size.
• Children under 13 years old must wear a USCG–approved PFD whenever underway in a vessel unless they are in a fully enclosed area.
• Each person on board a PWC or anyone being towed behind a vessel must wear a USCG–approved PFD. Inflatable PFDs are not approved for these activities.
• A Type V PFD may be substituted for other types if specifically approved by the USCG for the activity at hand. Type V hybrid PFDs (inflatables) must be worn while underway, except when the wearer is in an enclosed space.
• Inflatable PFDs are not approved for use by persons under 16 years of age.

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.