We’ve got an 8 month old and most of the time he doesn’t mind his life jacket, but oftentimes he hates it. We’ve ALWAYS left it on him, regardless, because it’s the safe/smart thing to do.
SCDNR’s site reads the following:
quote:In South Carolina, any person under twelve years of age must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III, or V PFD when on board a class “A” (less than 16 ft. long) boat.
So, does that mean, BY LAW, young fellas are not REQUIRED to wear a PFD since the boat will be over 16’?
The main reason I ask is because my new boat will have a cabin and I was kinda thinkin’ it was a bit silly for him to have to wear a jacket if we try to put him down for a nap or something like that.
I guess I was doing it all wrong on my Scout I just got rid of. I was under the assumption that any child had to be in a jacket no matter the size of the vessle.
Good to know. He’ll be much happier out of a jacket, in my wife’s arms, while cruising around a nearly vacant lake on calm days.
That is the way I read it. However in my boat (23 ft) my kids (6 and 12) ALWAYS wear their vest in the boat, PERIOD. They have since being born. They don’t know any difference.
I pondered the same thing, when my daughter was younger, and couldn’t swim. Eventually I concluded she couldn’t swim no matter the size of the boat, so she always wore a pfd, for safety. Another thing to consider, what if you fell overboard, or were rendered unconcious, at least with a pfd on, the little fellow would have a fighting chance until help arrived. JMHO Seeya, Scott
You know I never hated school, it was just the principal of it!
Don’t get me wrong – he’ll probably stay in his vest 99% of the time. If he’s super fussy, then we may take him out to calm him down. If down for a nap, if it works, AWESOME. He can sleep with the thing on. I actually think we need to find a neoprene one that’s more comfortable, and a little less “bulky”. He’s got one of those huge ones and he hates it. It’s not the super-cheap orange ones, but a nicer one with the rear head supports and the handle on it. I guess with a different vest, he wouldn’t mind it as much. He looks “all crumpt up” in the thing!
I look at it the same way as y’all do – it’s kinda like putting them in the car… Always strap them into a proper carseat; ya just NEVER KNOW what may happen.
I agree on the mentality thing!! Take a look at most larger Sailboats. Once out of the cockpit, there’s virtually nothing keeping a small child from rolling right off the deck ,under the rails, and into the water! Not one who really enjoys the restraints of legislation, but protecting helpless children is a must, regardless the size of the vessel, in my ever so humble opinion. Seeya, Scott
You know I never hated school, it was just the principal of it!
For all of you jon boat owners: DNR will look at your boat’s registration for the length. Point is, you need to look at your registration. I bought a 16 ft. jon boat, but my registration says 15’10".
I can’t find this anywhere now, but I recall reading that in boats over 16 feet children under 12 must wear pfds while under way. However, I think it also said if they were in a cabin they could be without. Sorry I can’t back this up, it appears dnr has changed their web site.
Heck I still make my 14 year old wear his when he takes off in his boat. He’s been wearing his “boat coat” since he was born and doesn’t think twice about it. We do take them off when running around in the bigger boat, but my 11 year old daughter still wears her’s all the time.
We should probably all wear them when running on plane, but no one, including me, does. I do wear my kill switch FWIW.
I gotta admit I don’t wear mine all the time either, but I always wear the kill switch laniard when under power!! I read a post somewhere about falling overboard, and watching your boat slowly idling out of site, into the horizon. Since then I wear it faithfully!
You know I never hated school, it was just the principal of it!
USMCSilver…I know the situation you are in. We have a 3.5 year old and a 1 year old.
The “infant” style sucks, whether it is neoprine or regular. The head support thing combined with the shape of a infants body makes them never fit well.
It gets MUCH better at 30lbs (I think) when they can wear the next size up. We moved our older child up to the next size in neoprine last summer.
Don’t sweat it, you don’t have long until the season changes.
My thoughts regading an infant/child on a boat…I am not so worried about the child falling over. Rather my concern is either (1) another boat hitting us or (2) a falure causing us to take on water. Even with two adults on board, it would be tough for one to deal with this situation (sinking) and at the same time outfit the child and him/herself with a PFD. I view making children wear them at all times as being prepared for the worst case.
REQUIREMENT FOR CHILDREN TO
33 CFR 175.15 (C)
WEAR PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES
33 CFR 175.25
(PFD)
FEDERAL REQUIREMENT Children under 13 must wear Coast Guard approved PFD’s on all recreational vessels while the vessel is underway unless the children are below decks or in an enclosed cabin.
APPLICATION / JURISDICTION Applies on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and on the high seas beyond the territorial seas for boats owned in the United States.
On waters within the geographical boundaries of any State that has established by statute or rule a requirement under which each child must wear an appropriate PFD approved by the Coast Guard while aboard a recreational vessel, no person may use such a vessel in violation of that statute or rule.
A