I?m a Bad Bad Boat Owner

Joined
Jul 1, 2010
Messages
19
Re: I?m a Bad Bad Boat Owner

Is it a law for kids to wear vests in Alabama? It does sound like a good idea, but didn't know it is a law. If so what is the age where they can go without a vest without getting a ticket?
 

spikeitaudi

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 24, 2010
Messages
306
Re: I?m a Bad Bad Boat Owner

In New Jersey, kids 13 and younger must wear PFD's.
 

CHAWK46

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Messages
45
Re: I?m a Bad Bad Boat Owner

First of all I'm probably the safest boater on our lake. One day I was taking a bunch of kids tubing behind my old cuddy. Had a bunch of PFDs in the cabin. The DEC started chasing me around the lake in their little tiller boat. I pulled up to my dock and they pulled up behind me. Said they were checking jackets. I said no problem, kid on the tube was wearing a full vest as were the two spotters. They said how about you. I said no problem, opened the cabin and all the vests were gone. The kids had been swapping their wet vests for dry ones from the cabin all day. There were a dozen hanging on the rail of my pontoon on the other side of the dock. I explained this to them and got a ticket anyway.
 

sewerrat

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2009
Messages
81
Re: I?m a Bad Bad Boat Owner

Is it a law for kids to wear vests in Alabama? It does sound like a good idea, but didn't know it is a law. If so what is the age where they can go without a vest without getting a ticket?

I think WI and VA are the only 2 states that don't require vests at all times for under 13.
They tried this year in WI but it never got to vote.
 
Joined
Apr 13, 2010
Messages
22
Re: I?m a Bad Bad Boat Owner

My 6 year old has had her jacket off a few times while on the hook... usually to switch to dry clothes for the trip home if it has cooled off... she like to sit up front! As soon as she takes it off, it goes on the drivers seat... nothing like sitting on a wet life jacket for a reminder when we are ready to get under way again!!
 

180shabah

Rear Admiral
Joined
Mar 26, 2005
Messages
4,995
Re: I?m a Bad Bad Boat Owner

Hey, everone lived, so no harm no foul - even dorks make mistakes....;)
 

scoutabout

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Oct 14, 2006
Messages
1,568
Re: I?m a Bad Bad Boat Owner

Perfectly understandable lapse and now you've had a pretty good memory jogger that really hasn't cost you all that much. The fact it has been eating at you shows you're a good dad and boater looking to do better next time.

The tattoo sounds a little extreme ;) but if you have one of those little label makers, why not print a strip that says "PFDs" and stick it to your console next to your ignition or blower swtch? A mini-checklist as it were.

Myself I have an old tractor with one of those glass bowls to catch sediment in the fuel. It's mounted up under the gas tank on the side of the engine and out of sight. If I forget to shut that valve after using the tractor, the gravity feed will eventually flood the carb. Happened all the time til I printed a strip that says Fuel Shutoff and stuck it next to the ignition switch as a reminder to do first thing after climbing off the seat.

I need another on the boat reminding me to flip up the swim platform ladder. I'm always taking off after boarding a tuber only to look back and see this fountain of spray going everywere. Arrrrgh! Probably isn't all that good for the ladder either...
 

Gromulin

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 5, 2010
Messages
230
Re: I?m a Bad Bad Boat Owner

FWIW I hated wearing a life jacket as a kid, but I did it untill the law said I didn't have to.

No Kidding...todays kids have nice soft form-fitting vests, compared to the Orange Maidens we had to wear. Or the "Ski Belts" that would slide up under your armpits...

Mistakes happen. Don't beat yourself up over it, I have a 7 and 8y/o, I know how distracted they can get. And how distracted they (and a wife) can make you!
 
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