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

[Mel Taylor]

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?

My apologies, Since I wear a Type 1 PFD (AKA Type 1 life jacket) , that's what I was thinking of, the kind that usually turns one face up in the water. As a matter of fact I know someone who was likely saved by wearing a Type 1 Jacket years ago, although he thinks that he regained consciousness almost immediately when the shock of the February water hit him and he may very well be right. I went into the water of Caballo Lake here in new mexico voluntarily in early February to untangle a fouled prop years ago and I swear the shock of hitting that cold water would have wakened a corpse!

 

[crabby captain john]

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

I wear mine when boating alone. Sadly, I have not found a 10' kill switch lanyard that would allow me to fish with it connected...

 

[crabby captain john]

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

Many years ago when I lived in PA it became difficult to sell a boat under 16' as the Army C of E required every one to wear a pfd in boats less than 16'...

 

[roscoe]

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

I wear mine when boating alone. Sadly, I have not found a 10' kill switch lanyard that would allow me to fish with it connected...

lengthening a lanyard shouldn't be too hard to do.

 

[Mel Taylor]

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

I wear mine when boating alone. Sadly, I have not found a 10' kill switch lanyard that would allow me to fish with it connected...

Me either and when I did try lengthening the lanyard it got tangled and wrapped around everything in the boat. I decided that it was more of a hazard and more dangerous than not having a kill switch at all. There's gotta be some better way of killing the engine if one goes overboard or falls down in the boat.

 

[ThrottleBack]

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.

1) No such thing as close enough to the person thrown from the boat or knocked unconscious.

2) Right you have very little time and no chance without it, so why risk not wearing it. Accidents are not planned.

3) It can slip right off if you get hurt, thrown, knocked out, etc.

 

[MTboatguy]

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

1) No such thing as close enough to the person thrown from the boat or knocked unconscious.

2) Right you have very little time and no chance without it, so why risk not wearing it. Accidents are not planned.

3) It can slip right off if you get hurt, thrown, knocked out, etc.

Well I have been doing it for over 30 years now, including my time working on a scuba dive boat, so I will continue to do as I see fit.

Unless there is a law that specifically addresses this issue in the area that you live it, of course it is a personal choice. I am comfortable with the choices I make, of course I ride my ATV without a helmet as well, so call me stupid.

 

[Mel Taylor]

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

Hey guys,

We shouldn't get all acrimonious about this. The OP asked if he (or she) had to wear a PFD in Canada and some of us (including me) have turned it into a debate on whether it's safe to go out in a boat without one on and maybe even which kind to wear. We each have our own ideas and whether we agree or not we need to respect each other's opinions.

So yeah, when I become Emperor of the World we will all be wearing Class one PFDs 24/7 on land and on the sea. Until then please continue to do as you please - legal or otherwise.

 

[ThrottleBack]

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

Well I have been doing it for over 30 years now, including my time working on a scuba dive boat, so I will continue to do as I see fit.

Unless there is a law that specifically addresses this issue in the area that you live it, of course it is a personal choice. I am comfortable with the choices I make, of course I ride my ATV without a helmet as well, so call me stupid.

I won't call you stupid, but others might (at least in regards to the helmet)

 

[Mel Taylor]

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

Hey guys,

We shouldn't get all acrimonious about this. The OP asked if he (or she) had to wear a PFD in Canada and some of us (including me) have turned it into a debate on whether it's safe to go out in a boat without one on and maybe even which kind to wear. We each have our own ideas and whether we agree or not we need to respect each other's opinions.

So yeah, when I become Emperor of the World we will all be wearing Class one PFDs 24/7 on land and on the sea. Until then please continue to do as you please - legal or otherwise.

Helmets too but I won't institute that rule until the second year of my reign.

(Signed) Melvin the First

 

[MTboatguy]

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

You are going to have a tough time with that helmet thing, we don't even require them for road bikes where I live!

 

[nwcove]

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

this subject is hotly debated in my province......you need to be certified to operate any motorized vessel.....yes even a canoe with an electric motor. pfd's for all on board are mandatory( along with other basic safety gear) but do not need to be worn.
but any fool can buy a kayak and start paddling in the north atlantic!!!
heres a link to sample questions for the "card".....if you dont get 100% on this....sell your boat! lol

Official Boater Exam? Practice Test

 

[NYBo]

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

I wear mine when boating alone. Sadly, I have not found a 10' kill switch lanyard that would allow me to fish with it connected...

lengthening a lanyard shouldn't be too hard to do.

Me either and when I did try lengthening the lanyard it got tangled and wrapped around everything in the boat. I decided that it was more of a hazard and more dangerous than not having a kill switch at all. There's gotta be some better way of killing the engine if one goes overboard or falls down in the boat.

Marine safety wireless lanyard - autotether.com

 

[Dee Jsaan]

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

Some of us here also ride motorcycles. It's the same argument about "Helmet Laws Suck". But take a spill off a bike and thump your head against the ground where there is loose gavel when wearing your helmet and you'll be sold on always wearing it. If you weren't
wearing it it may be a moot point.

 

[Thalasso]

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.

A little hint. If you fall out of the boat and can't get the jacket on, put your arms through and lay on top. This way you can also swim. Jackets can be put on in the water, but this is something that has to be practiced before hand.Don't ask how i know this trick.

 

[MTboatguy]

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

I know if I can take off and put on my scuba diving set up which includes my tank, weight belt and BC, that I can put on a life vest in the water.

 

[Mel Taylor]

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

I know if I can take off and put on my scuba diving set up which includes my tank, weight belt and BC, that I can put on a life vest in the water.

I'm sure you can, but perhaps this isn't just about you.

 

[ThrottleBack]

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

Some of us here also ride motorcycles. It's the same argument about "Helmet Laws Suck". But take a spill off a bike and thump your head against the ground where there is loose gavel when wearing your helmet and you'll be sold on always wearing it. If you weren't
wearing it it may be a moot point.

yep

 

[ThrottleBack]

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

I know if I can take off and put on my scuba diving set up which includes my tank, weight belt and BC, that I can put on a life vest in the water.

Assuming your conscious. But anyway don't be so sure, a good friend of mine died trying to get on a life jacket in the water in Michigan. He was a commercial diver of 20 years and a retired Navy Seal (underwater demo). But I'm sure you will be just fine lol

 

[MTboatguy]

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

Assuming your conscious. But anyway don't be so sure, a good friend of mine died trying to get on a life jacket in the water in Michigan. He was a commercial diver of 20 years and a retired Navy Seal (underwater demo). But I'm sure you will be just fine lol

Listen,

If you have issues with what I post, then take it to private messages, otherwise let it drop, I have posted my opinion on this subject and I don't need you trekking around here picking up on my posts like you have done with this thread today. You do what you do and are comfortable and I will do what I do and am comfortable with. I am sorry your navy seal friend had an accident and didn't make it, but I am quite well trained as well being a retired army special forces colonel, and I have spent a considerable amount of time in the water, both above and below. After what I have been through in my life, I feel I am living on borrowed time now and enjoy every minute of it.

So you know what you can do with your LOL