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SAFETY EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS
Classification of vessels - equipment requirements
Florida law requires the owner and/or operator of a vessel to carry, store, maintain, and use the safety equipment required by the federal safety equipment requirements adopted by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Life Jackets Must be Worn
- Every child under 6 years of age must wear a USCG approved PFD on a vessel less than 26 feet in length while the vessel is underway.
- PWC operators and passengers must wear an approved Type I, II, III or V PFD. As mentioned earlier, inflatable life jackets are prohibited when water skiing or operating a PWC. All required lifesaving devices shall be United States Coast Guard approved, in serviceable condition and so placed as to be readily accessible.
All required lifesaving devices shall be USCG approved, in serviceable condition and so placed as to be readily accessible.
Life Jacket = Vest = Personal Flotation Devices = PFD
The life jacket is the single most important piece of safety gear for any boater. It is estimated over 85% of boaters who die in a boating incident would have survived if they had only been wearing a PFD. Isn’t that reason enough to buy a good quality life jacket and wear it always? Boating is a sport, and having the best safety gear available is critical.
PFD- Selecting The Right One
Life jackets come in a variety of shapes, colors and materials. Some are made for rugged use while others are made to protect you from cold water. No matter which life jacket you choose, be sure to get one that is right for you, your planned activities, and the water conditions you expect to encounter. Remember, spending a little time now may save your life later.
Read the inside label of a life jacket for restrictions, size, weight, and USCG approval. Most life jackets are made for general boating activities, but some are only for specific activities. Read the label to ensure the life jacket is appropriate for the intended wearer and activity.
Inherently Buoyant PFDs - foam filled and will float without any additional action by the wearer.
Inflatable PFDs – CO2 filled bladder. Manual inflatables require action by the wearer. Automatic inflation devices inflate without action by the wearer. Made in adult sizes only (16 and older and more than 80 pounds). Not recommended for non-swimmers. Not for water sports like skiing and white water or for personal watercraft.
Hybrid PFDs – combines foam and inflatable air bladder for extra life. Adult and child sizes. Non-swimmers can use.
The Correct Fit
Select a life jacket for the activity you will be participating in. Many large stores (Wal-Mart, K-Mart) sell life jackets, as well as marine retail stores. Follow these steps to ensure the life jacket you select fits properly:
- Put on the life jacket, ensuring all straps, zippers and ties are fastened firmly and correctly.
- Raise your arms over your head (reach for the sky).
- Have someone firmly lift the life jacket straight up by the shoulders.
- The life jacket must stay in place. If it rises above your nose or mouth, so will water!
Test Your PFD
- Test your life jacket in a pool or shallow water to see how you float.
- Relax and let your head tilt slightly back.
- The life jacket must keep your chin above water.
- If you are a large person, consider a Type I or inflatable life jacket to support your body weight.
The 5 Types of PFDs
Wearable, inherently buoyant and inflatable PFDs are available in
Types I, II, III and V).
Inflatable L ife Jackets are rated at different Type levels (I, II, III or V). Always check the label to determine the Type level of your PFD. Inflatable life jacket s are not to be worn by anyone under 16 years of age, Personal Watercraft riders, skiers/tubers/wakeboarders, or while boating in whitewater.
| Type I – Offshore. Provides sufficient floatation to keep
most adults turned face up, even if unconscious Large, bulky, and hot,
but provides the most flotation (22 pounds) of the inherently buoyant
life jackets. Recommended for non-swimmers. The Type I Hybrid life
jacket provides both foam and an inflatable system in one jacket. |
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Type II – Near Shore. Provides a minimum of 15.5 pounds of
buoyancy and will turn some unconscious person face up in the water. The
Type II is an excellent choice for children (some models have a collar
handle and crotch strap for added safety). Inflatable Type II are
available. |
| Type III – Flotation Aid. Provides a minimum of 15.5 pounds
of buoyancy. Will not normally turn an unconscious person face-up in the
water. Includes inflatable and foam type life jackets. Most versatile
and comfortable type of life jackets. Excellent choice for most boating
activities including water skiing, wake boarding, tubing, paddle sports,
hunters and anglers. |
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Type IV – Throwable Special Use Device. Seat
cushion or ring buoy styles. Designed to be thrown to a person in the
water and grasped and held. It is not designed to be worn. Type IV PFD
devices include buoyant cushions, ring buoys, and horseshoe buoys. One
must be on all boats 16 feet or longer in addition to the required
wearable life jacket. |
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Type V – Wearable Special Use Device. Hybrids include some
inflatable life jackets, wet suits and survival suits. Must be worn for
the activity stated on the label for it to meet carriage requirements. |
Serviceability Requirements
No PFD may exhibit deterioration that could diminish the performance of the PFD, including:
- Metal or plastic hardware used to secure the PFD that is broken, deformed, or weakened by corrosion;
- Webbings or straps used to secure the PFD on the wearer that are ripped, torn, or which have become separated from an attachment point on the PFD; or
- Any other rotted or deteriorated structural component that fails when tugged.
- Rips, tears, or open seams in fabric or coatings, that are large enough to allow the loss of buoyant material;
- Buoyant material that has become hardened, non-resilient, permanently compressed, waterlogged, oil-soaked, or which shows evidence of fungus or mildew; or
- Loss of buoyant material or buoyant material that is not securely held in position.
In addition to meeting the requirements of above, an inflatable PFD, including the inflatable components of a hybrid inflatable PFD, must be equipped with:
- A properly armed inflation mechanism, complete with a full inflation CO2 cartridge and all status indicators showing that the inflation mechanism is properly armed:
- Inflatable chambers that are all capable of holding air;
- Oral inflation tubes that are not blocked, detached, or broken;
- A manual inflation lanyard or lever that is not inaccessible, broken, or missing;
- Inflator status indicator that is not broken or otherwise non-functional.
- The inflation system of an inflatable PFD need not be armed when the PFD is worn inflated and meets the rest of the requirements.
Carriage Requirements
By law, adults only need to have a life jacket on board the vessel, but wearing it is always the best choice.
- Type I, II, or III wearable PFDs must be readily accessible.
"Readily Accessible" means the PFDs are stowed where they can be easily reached, or are out in the open ready for wear. A readily accessible PFD cannot be in a protective covering or under lock and key.
- Type IV throwable PFD must be immediately available.
"Immediately available" means the PFD shall be quickly reachable in an emergency situation. An immediately available PFD cannot be in a protective covering, in a closed compartment or under other equipment.
- Type V must meet labeling requirements stamped on the inside of the PFD. In most cases, the Type V must be worn in order for it to meet the legal carriage requirements.
Other Situations
The best option is to always wear a vest, however, the smart boater will definitely wear a vest anytime there is a chance of the following:
- High boat traffic – increased boat traffic elevates the risk of collision.
- Severe weather – high seas and winds increase the chance of capsizings and swamping.
- Dangerous water conditions – swift water, especially at or near low-head dams, create unsafe conditions and need to be avoided.
- Dangerous local conditions – rip tides, water intakes and discharges, shoaling and unmarked hazardous areas are of concern when boating in unfamiliar waters.
- When off-shore – the further away from land you travel, the greater the need to wear a PFD.
- Operating at night – night boating presents hazards such as unseen floating objects, difficult visibility and unlit structures.
When boating alone – always consider wearing a PFD when boating solo as there is no one available to assist you should you end up in the water. Attempting to put on a vest after you are in the water is a tiring, extremely difficult maneuver, especially in a situation where the water is cold, or the waves are high, and you are experiencing a life-threatening situation.
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