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SALTWATER FISHING
Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
PFDs are important potential life saving
devices and are required onboard. Make
sure when selecting a PFD that it is
Coast Guard approved and is designed for
a person of your size and weight.
One wearable PFD for each person aboard
is required and they should be stowed
where readily accessible. (Readily
accessible does not include being in the
plastic wrapper in which it came or
stowed forward in the v-berth under 5
cases of soda.)
In addition to a wearable PFD for each
person, one Type IV throwable device,
which should be immediately available,
is also required on each vessel 16 feet
or larger.
New Federal
Regulations, enforceable 1/1/2003,
mandate that the 15 states without child
life jacket laws require that youths
under 13 wear an approved PFD whenever a
recreational vessel is underway, unless
below decks or in a closed cabin. States
with existing regulations are not
required to alter their status. Make
sure you check your state regulations
before getting underway with children
onboard.
In Florida every child under the age
of six (6) must wear a U.S.C.G.
approved Type I, II, or III personal
flotation device while onboard a vessel
under 26 feet in length while the vessel
is underway. Underway is defined as
anytime except when the vessel is
anchored, moored, made fast to the
shore, or aground.
PWC operators and passengers must wear
an approved Type I, II, III or V PFD.
Inflatable life jackets are prohibited
when water skiing or operating a PWC.
Required PFDs must be readily
accessible.
For PFD Basics Information. click here.
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