Article by Capt. Steve Katz
Stay Afloat
Summer fishing season has arrived, both inshore and offshore fishing is starting to pick up with busy weekends on the water and tournaments filling the calendar. The air is warm, but the water is cool, and many are heading out for the first trips of the season. This is a good time to review your safety equipment before the season gets too busy.
As I often shop in marine supply and tackle stores, I notice the abundance of clothing marketed to those who spend time on the water, boating, fishing surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding etc. Many of the modern clothing is functional and looks good too. One item of gear I don’t often see “flying off the shelves” is safety clothing and devices, such as the traditional life jackets, inflatable PFD and throwable PFD. A good Type 1 PFD is similar in cost to some of the fancy fishing shirts hanging on the shelves.
While a Personal Flotation device is not something you purchase regularly, it is an important piece of inexpensive safety gear to keep on board your boat. While the United States Coast Guard and state agencies have varying regulations about Personal Flotation Devices (PFD’s), it is always required and good practice that all recreational boaters carry one PFD for each person. While this seems simple to comply with, it could be accidentally overlooked by the captain on any given boat trip. Additionally, the equipment condition is very important – an older dry-rotted PFD may look OK in the storage bag but may not be up to the task of keeping an adult floating for hours on end in the ocean. It seems the PFD straps and clips fail first, so be sure to inspect these areas annually along with the entire PFD.
Life jackets are designed to keep you from sinking, but not necessarily from drowning. Extra time should be taken in selecting a properly sized life jacket to insure a safe fit. Testing your life jacket in shallow water or a guarded swimming pool is a good idea.
While it still seems new, the inflatable life jackets were first approved by the USCG in 1996. Inflatable PFD’s are more complicated than standard life-jackets. The main characteristic for inflatables is that they have a chamber or bladder that is filled either by a compressed air cartridge or by mouth. These seem to be popular with single occupant boaters, light and easy to wear while operating the boat and fishing. In the event of an emergency, the boater can inflate the life jacket without relying on assistance from others.
Here are the current life jacket/PFD regulations for boater in Maryland: (excerpt from Maryland DNR)
All recreational boats must carry one wearable life jacket (Type I, II, III, or V) for each person on board. Any boat 16 feet and longer (except canoes & kayaks) must also carry one throw-able life jacket (Type IV). Life jackets must be Coast Guard approved, in good and serviceable condition, readily available and of appropriate size for the intended user. If an inflatable life jacket is to be counted toward minimum carriage requirements, it must be worn and may be carried instead of another type of life jacket only when used according to the approval conditions on the label.
Life jackets are required on non-motorized vessels including canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards and any other device capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water or ice. The above regulations are in parallel with the USCG requirements.
Maryland does have some specific state regulations for boaters operating in Maryland waterways. (excerpt from Maryland DNR):
Children’s Life Jacket Requirements
All children under the age of 13 must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket (Type I, II, III or V) while underway on a recreational vessel under 21 feet in length on Maryland waters. Recreational vessels include motorboats, sailboats, canoes, kayaks, rowboats and any other device capable of being used for transportation on the water, when the vessel is being used for other than commercial purposes.
The life jacket must be the proper size for the child and must be in serviceable condition. Also, a child under the age of 4 must wear a life jacket that features additional safety precautions, as appropriate for an infant, toddler, or young child, so as to:
• Hold the child securely within the life jacket, including a strap that is secured between the child’s legs to fasten together the front and back of the life jacket.
• Maintain the buoyancy of the child, including an inflatable headrest or high collar.
• Ensure the ability to quickly grab the child from the water.
This does not apply to a vessel that is moored or anchored or a child who is below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
What are the different types of life jackets or PFD’s?
Types of Life Jackets:
• Type I or OFF-SHORE LIFE JACKET provides the most buoyancy. It is effective for all waters, especially open, rough or remote waters where rescue may be delayed. It is designed to turn most unconscious wearers in the water to a face-up position.
• Type II or NEAR-SHORE BUOYANCY VEST is intended for calm, inland water or where there is a good chance of quick rescue. This type will turn some unconscious wearers to a face-up position in the water. The turning action is not as pronounced and it will not turn as many persons to a face-up position under the same conditions as a Type I.
• Type III of FLOTATION AID is good for calm, inland water or where there is a good chance of quick rescue. It comes in many styles, colors and sizes and is generally the most comfortable for continuous wear. Float coats, fishing vests, and vests designed with features suitable for various sports activities are examples of this type life jacket.
• Type IV or THROW-ABLE DEVICE is intended for calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic where help is always present. It is designed to be thrown to a person in the water and grasped and held by the user until rescued. It is not designed to be worn. Type IV devices include buoyant cushions, ring buoys and horseshoe buoys.
• Type V Life Jacket or SPECIAL USE DEVICE is intended for specific activities and may be carried instead of another life jacket only when used according to the approval condition on the label. Some Type V devices provide significant hypothermia protection. Varieties include deck suits, work vests, board sailing vests and hybrid life jackets.
• Type V or HYBRID INFLATABLE LIFE JACKET is the least bulky of all life jacket types. It contains a small amount of inherent buoyancy and an inflatable chamber. Its performance is equal to a Type I, II or III life jacket (as noted on the label) when inflated. Please be sure to read the label of your inflatable to determine whether it is a requirement to wear while underway or have it readily accessible to wear when needed.
Take some time to review your PFD’s and be sure you have good condition equipment that meets the requiem for the types of passengers you have and the waters where you travel. §
