FLOTATION DEVICES
Every vessel, except sailboards, must carry one U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation device
of suitable size and readily accessible for each person on board. Every vessel, except
sailboards, personal watercraft, canoes, and kayaks, in addition to the required wearable
life preservers, also shall carry one U.S. Coast Guard -approved throwable device.
• No child age 12 or under is allowed aboard any vessel when not wearing a life
preserver of suitable size, except when hunting waterfowl in an anchored boat.
• The operator is responsible for compliance.
Each flotation device shall be:
• U.S. Coast Guard approved;
• In good and serviceable condition;
• An appropriate size for the wearer;
• Readily accessible to each person aboard the watercraft at all times.
Types of flotation devices:
Inflatable flotation devices
The intended use of inflatable flotation devices is for many of the same activities as the
inherently buoyant types of flotation devices. The user must be aware of the differences and
read the owner's manual.
Inflatable flotation devices are:
• Not for water sports such as water skiing or whitewater boating,
• Not for use with personal watercraft,
• Not for children younger than 16 years of age,
• Highly visible when inflated,
• More comfortable than foam type,
• Not recommended for weak or non-swimmers,
• Not throwable devices,
• Made with oral, manual and automatic cartridge inflation devices.
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Wearable
Throwable
