Always have the right safety equipment onboard your boat. It’s one of the most important things you can do for boating safety and it’s the law.

Federal law requires that all boats be equipped with one wearable life jacket for each passenger onboard the boat (wearable life jackets include Types I, II, III, or V). As the boat operator, it’s your responsibility to provide a life jacket for each of your passengers. Remember, there are fines for those who fail to carry the proper number and/or type of life jackets for their passengers.

This style of life jacket is primarily made of foam. Inherently buoyant flotation devices are very durable and come in a wide size range. They usually outlast the other life jacket styles.

This life jacket design combines foam with inflation. Hybrid flotation devices are comfortable to wear and are available in a wide size range.

This style of life jacket is very comfortable and compact. Some vests can be inflated manually and some have air chambers that inflate automatically once the wearer enters the water.

This is the most buoyant vest you can wear. Type I vests are designed to turn an unconscious wearer face-up in the water. This is the vest you should wear in rough water conditions, when you’re boating far from shore and in situations where a rescue might not be immediately possible.

Advantage:

• The high level of buoyancy increases the likelihood of your survival in an overboard emergency.

Disadvantage:

• This is a larger and heavier vest that’s less comfortable to wear than the other life jacket types.

The Type I life jackets available are:

• Inherently Buoyant Type I PFDs – SOLAS Service.
• Inherently Buoyant Type I PFDs – U.S. Service.
• Inflatable Type I PFDs – SOLAS and Domestic.
• Hybrid Type I PFDs – U.S. Services.

This vest is best worn in calm waters when you’re boating close to shore. There’s a wide selection of sizes available for Type II vests. Additionally, inflatable vests of this type are designed to turn the unconscious wearer face-up in the water.

Advantage:

• They are more comfortable to wear than the Type I vest.

Disadvantage:

• They should only be worn in close-to-shore boating situations where a quick rescue would be likely in an emergency situation.

The Type II life jackets available are:

• Inherently Buoyant Type II life jackets.
• Inflatable Type II life jackets.
• Hybrid Type II life jackets.

These vests are often worn during water sport activities and are available in many colors, styles and sizes. They should be used when you’re boating on calm, inland waters.

Inflatable vests of this type are designed to turn the unconscious wearer to a face-up position in the water. However, the wearer may need to tilt their head back to avoid flipping face down.

Advantages:

• There are many style options available to choose from.
• They are comfortable to wear during towed sport or paddling activities.

Disadvantage:

• Wearers may need to place themselves in a face-up position when in the water.

The Type III life jackets available are:

• Inherently Buoyant Type III life jackets.
• Inflatable Type III life jackets.
• Hybrid Type III life jackets.

Safe Boating Tip:

When in a smaller boat, other boaters may find it difficult to see you. To increase your visibility to other boaters, you should always wear a brightly colored life jacket.

This flotation device type is meant to be used anywhere that you’re boating but is best used in calm waters where rescue is always available. These devices are meant to be thrown to people who have fallen overboard—not worn by them. The person in the water must hold onto the Type IV device in order to stay afloat.

The throwable device must be in good condition (no rips or tears) to be considered Coast Guard-approved. Additionally, the holding brackets for the throwable device should be designed to allow Type IV devices to float free from your boat if it’s sinking!

Advantage:

• Throwable flotation devices may be easily thrown to a person in the water.

Disadvantage:

• Throwable flotation devices are not designed to be worn and must be grasped by the person in the water until they can be rescued.

The Type IV throwable devices available are:

• Buoyant cushions.
• Life rings.
• Horseshoe buoys.

Note: If your boat is over 16 feet in length, federal law requires you to have one Type IV throwable device onboard, in addition to a life jacket for each person on the boat.

These flotation devices are intended for particular water activities (such as a kayaking vest or a work vest). The Type V inflatable vests are very comfortable to wear and most are designed to inflate automatically when you enter the water.

• The intended uses of the life jacket.
• Coast Guard-approval (or lack thereof).
• Sizing information.
• Instructions on how to properly secure the life jacket.
• The care and maintenance instructions.