Life Jackets

[mrrat]

If you live in Canada do you have to have lifejackets that are Canadian Coast Guard Approved or can you buy your lifejackets in the U.S.A.? I realize lifejackets are lifejackets but I'm wondering about the legal aspect of it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Life Jackets

I Don't really Know the answer to your Question......<br />Never been stopped by the Mounties,......<br /><br />I Know that My PFDs are Legal on All of the Lake,+ River up here,.....<br />Don't Matter Which Police Dept. does the Stopping........

 

[mrrat]

Re: Life Jackets

I guess what are the chances of getting pulled over in the first place and then having them look at the tag on your lifejacket.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Life Jackets

Well this is a big issue, Generally you will be fine as long as you are not doing anything commercial or operating a big boat. Many life jackets are set to international standards which applies to both USA and Canada, in that case you will be legal anyway you go (comercial or big boat). The only thing I would be worried about is the ski-type life jackets not meeting the requirements of the Canada Coast Guard http://www.tc.gc.ca/acts-regulations/GENERAL/C/CSA/regulations/070/csa076/csa76.html But most type 1 and 2 meet the requirements of both countries.

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: Life Jackets

I say as long as each person on board has one, thats what counts. American or Candian, I think it would be thrown out of any court room.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Life Jackets

Do you live in Canada?<br /><br />If so, I believe you are required to have a floatation devece approved by the Canadian authorities.<br /><br /><br />But if you are just visiting from the US:<br /><br />16.08 A pleasure craft is not required to carry a personal flotation device or lifejacket<br /><br />(b) for any person who ordinarily resides in a country other than Canada, where the person brings aboard the pleasure craft a wearable personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size that the person has brought into Canada for the person's use while in Canada and that conforms to the laws of that country.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Life Jackets

As long as the life jacket isn't torn or missing straps and has a label on it from either country as an approved jacket and it is the appropriate size for the person on board, it should be just fine.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Life Jackets

Canada Safety Council For what it's worth.....<br /><br />"Life-jackets must be approved by Transport Canada, PFDs by the Canadian Coast Guard, Department of Fisheries and Oceans".

 

[markvan]

Re: Life Jackets

I have been checked on the water by the fish cops and had two life jackets in my boat that were bought in the US and they didn't give me a ticket so I would say it was legal.

 

[kwikk9]

Re: Life Jackets

Seems like common sense rules here. If I'm in trouble in the water I won't be stopping to check the label, I just want to float. Cobra 3.0 is right, if you're properly equipped (and we all know what that means) should not be a problem.