Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

[Pouryakamkar]

I own a 16 foot boat. Do I have to wear a PFD in Canada?

 

[ThrottleBack]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

A quick google search would indicate that like most places you dont have to wear it but it must be on board

wearalifejacket.com

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

A quick google search would indicate that like most places you dont have to wear it but it must be on board

wearalifejacket.com

Correct. One life jacket for each person on board, and certified by transport Canada. Children MUST be wearing them, adults not, but they should be close by - not locked away in a locker!

OP - if you purchased your pfd in the USA, it MAY NOT be legal in Canada. No idea why but if it doesn't have a Transport Canada certification # then it isn't legal here

 

[roscoe]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

It would be a good idea if you want to grow up and become a doctor, lawyer, or engineer.



Equipment - Transport Canada
It is strongly recommended that a lifejacket or PFD be worn at all times, particularly in smaller boats. Learn more about cold water and the necessity of wearing a lifejacket in Key Safety Information.

Almost 90% of the 180 Canadians (on average) who die every year in boating incidents were not properly wearing a lifejacket or PFD. Nearly 70% capsized or fell overboard from a small open boat. (2006/07 Canadian Red Cross 10-Year Drowning Report)

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

I own a 16 foot boat. Do I have to wear a PFD in Canada?

Hi. I'm posting another response as your question worries me You don't say if you are a Can or US resident. If Canadian you should really know this before getting into a boat - if US then this is for your information. See link to Transport Canada minimum safety requirements for boats

Equipment - Transport Canada

Roscoe - typing at the same time. Pleased to see someone else concerned here !

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

When we go out, we always have a PFD for every person on the boat, and they are VERY close at hand, living in an upper latitude state in the US, the water is cold and you don't have much time to get out, without a PFD, you have no time at all, I pulled someone out of the water last weekend, that had a PFD but could not get to it when his boat went down. Normally, I don't buckle mine but I do have it on when on the water, just in case.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

Just like seat belts save lives in cars, PFDs save lives on boats.

There was a tragic accident on the Hudson river this weekend where 2 people lost their lives that may have been saved had they been wearing their PFDs.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

When we go out, we always have a PFD for every person on the boat, and they are VERY close at hand...... Normally, I don't buckle mine but I do have it on when on the water, just in case.

It depends on the situation, but if you're running pretty fast you certainly want everyone on board to have theirs on and fastened. Doesn't seem like a good way to impress chicks, but if you hit the water going over 60 (or over 35 or 40 for that matter) you're probably gonna' be at least dazed and won't have a chance to fasten it before you drown. AND don't forget the safety cutoff lanyard, a guy was killed on the lake I boat on a few weeks ago when he somehow fell overboard, if he'd have had on his lanyard and life jacket it wouldn't have been any big deal.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

It depends on the situation, but if you're running pretty fast you certainly want everyone on board to have theirs on and fastened. Doesn't seem like a good way to impress chicks, but if you hit the water going over 60 (or over 35 or 40 for that matter) you're probably gonna' be at least dazed and won't have a chance to fasten it before you drown. AND don't forget the safety cutoff lanyard, a guy was killed on the lake I boat on a few weeks ago when he somehow fell overboard, if he'd have had on his lanyard and life jacket it wouldn't have been any big deal.

Completely different situation, I own a 16 footer that only goes a little over 15 mph, I am way to old for the go fast syndrome. Us old geezers, did our go fast a long time ago, now I am just happy to be cruising along with a fishing pole in the water.

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

I'm 75 years old and have been boating for many years so hark to the words of (a self proclaimed) Elder. ALWAYS WEAR A PFD WHEN YOU ARE IN A BOAT! Why always? you might ask. Because I can only think of two instances when I fell out of a boat (well there was that other time in my driveway but that don't count). Both times I was stopped dead in the water, stood up to do something and went over the side. I was thirty odd years younger than I am now, in good health and I don't drink. I didn't get dizzy in either case. I just made a misstep and over the side I went.

The first time I was by myself on a deserted lake in Mexico and the second time I was with my very decrepit eighty year old father (of blessed memory) on the same lake. In both cases I made it back into the boat without a problem but had I hit my head on something on the way over the side there's a fair chance I wouldn't be here today. After the second instance I decided never again to get into a boat without a PFD - even in the hottest of weather.

I hate the danged things! They are hot and sweaty in warm weather and years ago I picked up some kind of heat rash from wearing one, that plagues me to this day in the summer when I sweat. They're unwieldy all year 'round, at least the kind are I use are, and they sometime interfere with my casting, but I want to know that if I do go over the side again I stand the maximum chance of surviving an impromptu dunking.

I know most people reading this won't heed it and that's OK, that's your right. But I ask of you, at least consider it.

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

i dont wear mine unlesse we get into some crazy weather

 

[pckeen]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

Hi, I live and work in Northern Ontario - one of the boating capitals of North America - every year, we have about half a dozen drownings, usually with experienced boaters, out fishing, not doing anything stupid, having a great time....until something goes wrong. All it takes is to nail a an unexpected rock, reef or deadhead, or to accidentally crank the throttle, or trip, be hit by a wave that catches the boat just right or.....well the list goes on. Those that drown are never wearing a PFD.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

I'll reflect on it this way. A PFD to a boater is like a crash helmet to a motorcyclist. If you can't stand on one leg then you probably should wear a helmet. If you can't swim then you should probably wear a PFD. In eaither case the equipment won't always save your life but you stand a better chance with it on than w/o it.

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

If you can't swim then you should probably wear a PFD. In either case the equipment won't always save your life but you stand a better chance with it on than w/o it.

It's hard to swim when you're unconscious - like from hitting your head on something hard as you go over the side. And even the strongest swimmers tend to tire out after some period of trying to stay afloat and survive.

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

mind you i do make everyone who is sixteen and under wear their life vests regardless

 

[Mel Taylor]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

Right now my health is a little compromised but as soon as I can get back to to the lake, I'm going to run a little experiment. Or maybe I'll do it in someone's swimming pool. I'm going to get into water a little bit deeper than I am tall. with someone standing by to rescue me if I get into trouble, and try to put a PFD on in the water as would happen if I fell out of a boat with the PFD "within arms reach". My bet is it would be extremely difficult unless one had rehearsed it many times. Especially if there were wind and waves complicating the picture.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

Don't ask us this question.

Ask your mother, girlfriend, wife, children, etc.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

It's hard to swim when you're unconscious - like from hitting your head on something hard as you go over the side. And even the strongest swimmers tend to tire out after some period of trying to stay afloat and survive.

Please explain how you comment relates to my comment as somehow I missed your point!

But no a PFD probably will not save your life if unconscious when one hits the water same as a helmet will not save you if hit from behind on a cycle while stopped at a stop sign when the car is in excess of 70mph.

So again what point are you trying make?

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

If you do not like wearing a PFD, get an Auto Inflating Type 5. You will forget you have it on.
Also available in the form of a full Jacket with sleeves.
They have more buoyancy that the Type 3s and will turn most people face up.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Do you have to wear a life jacket on a 16 foot boat?

Please explain how you comment relates to my comment as somehow I missed your point!

But no a PFD probably will not save your life if unconscious when one hits the water same as a helmet will not save you if hit from behind on a cycle while stopped at a stop sign when the car is in excess of 70mph.

So again what point are you trying make?

Likely a pfd won't, but a type 1 lifejacket very well may, as it will turn you face up and keep the face above water.