WISCONSIN: Lifejackets must be worn before the age of 13. Personal watercraft operators also need it. Fines are $148 for violations. We`ve put together a handy reference book if you`re not sure what rules apply in your state. If you are going to a new state and planning to go into the water, this can be very helpful as the rules can change a lot from one state to another. NORTH CAROLINA: People under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket in North Carolina. If you are towed on the water or driving a boat, you must also carry one. The fines are only $25, but they add court costs and the end result is more than $125, PUERTO RICO: Children under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket when a ship is en route. Personal watercraft operators must also wear them. HAWAII: Children under the age of 12 must wear a life jacket on a vessel operating offshore or anchored.
Fines can range from $50 to $1,000. Subsequent fines after an initial fine can be up to $5,000, followed by additional offences up to $15,000. Please note that these laws stipulate that boaters must be of the minimum age for a child to wear a life jacket. It is always up to parents to decide whether a child should wear a lifejacket, even in situations where it is not required by law. Lifejackets are divided into four broad categories by weight: On a level 70 lifejacket label, you`ll see a dock and an outstretched hand with a few slightly wavy lines indicating fairly calm water. This means that this lifejacket is suitable for near-shore use in relatively sheltered waters where rescue is likely to be within reach. You will notice that the higher the number on these icons, the farther away the dock and background are and the larger the waves of the icon. TEXAS: In a boat under 26 feet, all children under the age of 13 must wear an approved PFD.
In addition, anyone operating a personal watercraft must wear a life jacket. Fines can range from $25 to $500. PENNSYLVANIA: Boaters must wear lifejackets on vessels under 16 feet from Nov. 1 to April 30. Boaters under the age of 12 must wear lifejackets on any boat under 20 feet, including kayaks and canoes. Anyone sitting on or towed personal watercraft must also wear one. The fine is $50. By now, we should all know how important it is to wear a personal floating device when boating.
But no matter how long they have been available, there are still many boaters who do not use these rescue tools. Almost half of boaters in the UK do not wear a life jacket. In the United States, 80% of those drowned were not wearing a life jacket. Wearing it is not only a good idea, but necessary in many situations. That said, the rules can change from state to state, which can make things confusing. OREGON: All children under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket unless they are in an enclosed cabin or below deck. Similarly, people who use personal watercraft must wear a life jacket. Fines are over $200.
By the way, attention to etiquette is serious business. The use of a PFD beyond the purpose described on the label is illegal and may result in severe penalties. More importantly, it can lead to deaths. Therefore, you should always check the label and make sure you follow the directions. OKLAHOMA: Children under the age of 12 on a 26-foot submarine or submarine must wear a life jacket. Those on PWC must wear them too. The fines are $201. There`s no excuse not to wear a life jacket on the water! Boaters enjoy the feeling of the sun and spray It is therefore tempting to go boating without a life jacket, especially in good weather. But most boating-related drownings happen on sunny days. Information about power, buoyancy and rotation – The first thing you`ll notice is a bold number. It can be 50, 70, 100, 150 or 275. This is a measure of gravitational force which, in the case of a life jacket, is essentially buoyancy.
Simply put, the higher the number, the greater the flotation. Currently, most lifejackets on the market in the United States are level 70 life jackets. A well-fitting lifejacket must be provided to each person on board a pleasure craft. Lifejackets must be approved by the Coast Guard, in a usable condition and in the size appropriate to the intended user. Obviously, they are most effective when worn. On board a vessel en route, children under the age of 13 must wear an appropriate PFD approved by the Coast Guard, unless they are below deck or in an enclosed cabin. Within the geographic boundaries of a state that has established a dress requirement for children, that state`s requirement will be adopted. Our children`s lifejacket rental program can help you find the right lifejacket for the day or weekend.
To find the nearest rental location, use our handy map. NEVADA: Children under the age of 12 need life jackets. Similarly, personal watercraft operators need it. Fines can reach a maximum of $2000. The next thing you`ll notice are warnings and exclusions. In this example, this life jacket is suitable for general boating. However, there are icons with activities and a slash. These symbols indicate that this lifejacket is not suitable for towed sports such as skiing and tubing, or for operating boats or whitewater paddling sports. MARIALES DU NORD: Water skiers and personal watercraft operators must wear life jackets.
A life jacket should be considered an investment. You should take care of it like anything else that depends on proper operation on board, except it could save your life! Your label and instructions, which came with your life jacket, will provide general cleaning and care instructions. These symbols advise you to wash only by hand and not to use bleach, cleaners, irons or dryers in your grooming routine. In states that do not have a child lifejacket law, a Coast Guard interim rule requires children under the age of 13 to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejacket that fits moving boats.