PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

[Bubba1235]

Moningo Lake (Maryville MO.)

This is a lake not far from me that the DNR is working to make "family freindly" and has some stringent rules. No boats over 24', speed limit on the entire lake of 40 MPH, noise limits, etc. It seems to be working well and attracts a lot of family boaters and fishermen.

This year they are implementing a new "rule" and testing boaters on having and using their PDFs. When they do routine inspections they are testing people (children too) to see if they can locate and put on their PDFs properly in 30 seconds or less. Their issue is that while most people have enough PDFs far too many people store them in hard to access places and many do not know how to wear them properly.

Its a simple drill and if the boaters fail they recieve a warning ticket, (and a speech) the first time. Second time can result in a real ticket ($75 fine and mandatory court appearance.)

As expected some folks are all bent out of shape over it and calling it unfair, 30 seconds is too short, etc. Myself, I see no problem with it at all and 30 seconds does not seem unreasonable to me.

What is your take? Is this a fair rule and should the DNR continue to push it?

 

[ziggy]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

i think it's a bad exclusive rule.
i see no where in my state rule book that states i must conform to being able to put my pfd on in x amount of time. only that i have to have one that fits me while on board my boat. same with my passengers too.
i also think it's just another reason to pull people over to give them an inspection for other possible defects.

personally, i go back and forth as to when i wear my pfd. the situation dictates when i dawn it. when i'm w/o my pfd on, it sits right next to me under my throttle. could i put it on in 30 sec. probably so. so what. if i'm not wearing it and i get ejected out of my boat, or someone hits me while stationary at night. i doubt i have 30 sec. to put my pfd on. it's either on, or it's off.
but the rule is i have one that fits me while on board. my choice to wear it and my choice as to how long it takes me to put it on...

no pun, but i think they're going overboard with made up rules..

 

[Aviator5]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

30 seconds to find and wear lifejacket - piece of cake, how about 40 seconds from full sleep to fully dressed in the uniform in the middle of the night?
But seriously - I'm not sure that let's say 8 people in a 20' bowrider will be able to do that, unless they already have jackets on, or in their hands. But if you store them in the compartment under the seat, or in one of those special bags that you can buy - no way.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

I wouldn't have an issue with that rule, but I will make this note.

Any under 24' boat short of possibly an aft cabin cruiser, you should be able to find an put on your PFDs in 30 seconds. It sounds like a hassle, but I think your passengers should have no problem with it should the "challenge" arise. Do they have laws around your area where children under a certain age have to wear them at all times?

 

[ziggy]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

Do they have laws around your area where children under a certain age have to wear them at all times

yes, in NE. they do. and i have no problem with that law. it's written down. + children are not capable of understanding the consequences of their actions. it's up to adult's to provide this guidance and the law helps reinforce it.
some made up rule for one lake is bs... i just keep thinking about being ejected. it happens, and your not gonna put a pfd on prior to an ejection. just ain't happening..

 

[Philster]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

Bad rule.

If I don't want to wear or have a life jacket, isn't that on me? I don't even think they should have the right to require that they be on board.

 

[642mx]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

I think its an outrage. One, speed limits are stupid during daylight hours. And two, putting a rule on how quick you can put on a PFD is just another reason to pull someone over and harrass them. Both are just an example of the increase of government control.

 

[tractoman]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

While I am not a big "new law" guy, it is for safety. In California, kids 11 and under must wear PFD's in boats 26 feet and less at all times. My wife and I have ours stowed between the sides of our seats and the gunwale inside the boat so we can touch them at all times. If I have guests, they are instructed on where their PFD's are, so while I don't know if it should be a fineable offense, it is probably going to help someone out someday. Better safe than sorry.

 

[koko1]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

I think it is a good rule but that is should not be enforced....It is up to the captain and the passengers to use enough common sense to know that should something happen they will have limited time to act and should prepare accordingly... To fine someone because of it is overstepping the laws IMO...

 

[cwhite6]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

I put disagree but I do agree with them being accessible. In LA, if you have a tiller handle motor like I do, everyone in the boat must have a PFD on when the motor is running. Not real sure why they changed this to just tiller handled motors. Also, 16 and under must wear a PFD in a boat while it is underway.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

The river where I will be boating has an enforced speed limit, which I believe is also 40 mph. I might have an issue with that, if my boat could possibly exceed it, but the reasoning for it sounds logical. When you have smaller spaces with more people, there needs to be some rules and regulations to stop someone from doing 60-70+ mph. I know it looks like just the government trying to control us, but I don't think putting a 40 mph cap on people is such a harsh rule...

Once again, if my boat could do over 40, I might have a different opinion.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

When they do routine inspections they are testing people (children too) to see if they can locate and put on their PDFs properly in 30 seconds or less.

I think this is crap also. I am out on the water to fish and/or have fun. Not to play some "find the PFD" game with the LEO's.

And I gotta say I'm not a fan of the speed limit or size restriction either cuz it's another one of those slippery slope kinda deals. Sure there's "plenty of other lakes" now but how about in the future? How long till you can only use a cruiser on the ocean?

 

[boat1010]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

I think that having the kids wear them all the time is good. But 30 seconds is not. I feel that you should have them readily assessable and have one for everyone on the boat. There is usually a couple just laying in the boat form someone that has been skiing and the rest are in a compartment between the open bow and drivers compartment. Everyone that comes on board the boat is told where the jackets are stored and asked if they want it. If they say they don't want it then it stays in the compartment. I do have extra under the seats but they are taken out in accordance to how many people are in the boat. So if there are 8 people there are eight jackets in the compartment. not under the seats. If kids are in the boat and are old enough that they do not have to wear them all the time the jackets are by the kids not in the compartment. If the weather gets bad and lake gets rough the jackets are taken from the compartment and either held or put on by the passengers. And thats how I run my boat...

 

[dingbat]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

Humm....wonder if it takes more or less than 30 seconds to hit the water where your ejected from the boat at a high rate of speed when another party broadsides you?

I'm all for letting people make up their own minds as to wear a PFD or not as long as they are forced to pay for any services they require as a result of their actions. The 1-2 days of search and recovery for the body should be billed to and paid by the operator of the boat.

 

[642mx]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

Not so when its primarily a family use lake with lots of kids water sking, tubing, swimming, etc. There are plenty of lakes for the go fast crowd. Setting aside a lake without huge wakes (try the Lake of the Ozarks if you don't understand that) for families with smaller boats seems very reasonable and is working well for them. It's a very popular lake for families and is a smaller lake. (4 miles or so in length.)

On a 4 mile lake, your not going to attract 100 mph MTI's. So whats the problem with someone in an 18 foot boat running 55? Boats running 55-60 mph make a smaller wake than someone pulling a tube at 15 mph.

And once again, who would bring a 57 foot Carver to a 4 mile lake? Why the length restriction? People can ski behind a 25 Baja Outlaw, but you can't enjoy it on the lake because of discrimination?

The rules of your lake make no sense to me.... I'm glad we don't have any of these restrictions on the lakes around me.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

The flip side of that is small boats (20' for instance) has no chance on lakes with large go fast boats. Ask anyone that has been on the Lake of the Ozarks in a "small" 20' open bow. (Again, this is a small lake.)

We have a lake system here that the locals call Saline. It is actually a bunch of bayous and such that connect two lakes, Saline and Larto Lakes. I wish they would put a speed limit on it. The reason is this, most of this (95%) of it is bayous and sloughs that are maybe between 30 and 100 yards wide with lots and I mean lots of sharp blind corners. Also, you never see skiers or the such out there except in one spot. It is all fisherman. There are far too many folks that fly on these waters in excess of 50, 60 and 70 mph. Especially during bass tourneys. I have almost been hit many times in the blind corners by these idiots flying around the corners, sometimes 2 wide. This past Saturday I was running around 20' from the bank to avoid these idiots. I would love to see an enforced speed limit put on this area.

 

[skargo]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

Humm....wonder if it takes more or less than 30 seconds to hit the water where your ejected from the boat at a high rate of speed when another party broadsides you?

I'm all for letting people make up their own minds as to wear a PFD or not as long as they are forced to pay for any services they require as a result of their actions. The 1-2 days of search and recovery for the body should be billed to and paid by the operator of the boat.

I'm with this guy!

I wear mine all the time, if people don't want to, so be it. Same with seatbelts and helmets, I think they should NOT be mandated. It just weakens the gene pool by mandating safety IMO. I don't want to be held responsible for others negligence.

 

[diesel5599]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

My first thought is FL is great for one thing...OPEN OCEAN. I can do whatever I want once I'm out there. Second thought was, do they actually clock you with radar on the lake? I've never seen FWC, the Sheriffs, or the USCG with radar guns down here. Probably because we mostly just have no wake zones in the channels, very few speed limited channels.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

I'm with skargo.... I wear mine all the time so 30 secs is no problem. Its the rule on my boat. People don't have to follow it, but then again, they also don't have to go in my boat. My boat, my rules.

It's not required here, but in order for children to learn by example, you have to. I believe all children should wear them along with adults.

I'll be the first to admit they're uncomfortable so I went and purchased a hydrostatic self inflating one because you don't notice you're even wearing it but may save your life.

Getting thrown from your boat or slipping on the side while fishing, etc can happen in less than 30 seconds. Comfortable ones can be purchased (mind you are quite expensive as I paid close to $300 for mine).

I think of it this way. Next time you're in your boat with your kids. Picture them standing in the middle of the boat (wearing their PFDs) looking overboard. Dad's floating face down, drowned, no life jacket. Who is taking care of your kids then?

 

[rokrau]

Re: PDF (life jacket) - New 30 Second Rule on local lake

I think that having the kids wear them all the time is good. But 30 seconds is not. I feel that you should have them readily assessable and have one for everyone on the boat.

I agree with you very much but I go one step further (not saying you have to btw. . Just as I would not cross a red light as a pedestrian when children are around, I wear a life jacket in the boat. Then there are no discussions as to: "why does Dad not wear a life jacket and we have to...".

Our family rule is, the kids leave the car at the ramp with their life jackets on and don't take them off until we are back on land. Also: my kids are still rather young - all less than 11.

Having said that, I am not a huge fan of being pulled on the lake. I could live with LEO at the ramps, checking for PFD etc.. when you get on the lake?