halfpoint69

Is there a new law this year on life vests? I was told yesterday that If I have 3 or more people onboard that I need to display life vests. Meaning, they have to be in eyes view for the coast guard or police. Anyone know anything about this? i havent seen anything in the rules and laws.

demonfish

I havent seen anything. I have several friends whos kids just took the safe boating class, I'll ask them later.

__________________

halfpoint69

Thanks, they were saying that they have to be loose and in plain view on deck. I knew they could not be locked up and had to have access to them, but this whole thing is new.

Bob & Mag

I've not heard of this change. I'd like to think if it is, they would be good enough to publish it. We usually have a life jacket for all on the boat, in plain view and reachable anyway.
Boat us site might be a good place to look for any change or contacting CG.
If I see anything I'll post it.

__________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Smoke free 4 Months!

Bryan A.

I teach the Safe Boating course.

The law is 1 per person that FITS!!!!! and works, NO rips or broken Buckles. And they have to be accessible, as you said not locked away or still in the package. Nothing about display. Also any boat over 16' has to have a type IV throw-able onboard.

__________________
And the sea will grant each man new hope..............Christopher Columbus



2003 Parker 2530 "DORYMATE".......click the pic
1973 Seacraft 20SF
1970 Glastron V153

70hp Evinrude**FOR SALE**

Bob & Mag

Thanks Bryan. So nothing has changed.

__________________
Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

Smoke free 4 Months!

Bryan A.

Not as far as I know. We had our re-cert workshop in December.

If it changed since then, no one told me.

__________________
And the sea will grant each man new hope..............Christopher Columbus



2003 Parker 2530 "DORYMATE".......click the pic
1973 Seacraft 20SF
1970 Glastron V153

70hp Evinrude**FOR SALE**

halfpoint69

Thanks, I knew the current law, but I was shocked to hear that there was a change. Atleast you clarified. Thanks again.

Scup

Brian is right about not having them in the package. I had a cushion type that I had just purchased. It still had that thin plastic wrapping on it as I decided with my chum going all over the place (pot fisheries,) it would probably stink a little less if I kept it in its original packaging. The coast guard nail me on it. Probably did not help when I tossed it over the side and explained to them that "see it still floats". When they got out their book,I quickly retrieved it and tore off the plastic in less than two seconds. Then I asked "am I legal now". They said yes and left without writing me up. I really think that most of the current regulations are good and valid, but some are just idiotic. If I were to make up the regulations, it would be mandatory that every boat, regardless of size, should carry an anchor and rode. However, I was taught it is recommended but not mandatory. The Coast Guard can be idiots at times. When they first came out with regulations requiring flotation in small boats, the "National Fisherman" periodical put them to shame. It had a picture of a banks dory with 37 men in it (the poor guy that had to row did not have enough room to even swing his oars), yet the craft was level, stable, and still had plenty of freeboard left. Next to it was an aluminum 12 foot punt with just two people in it and it did not look too stable nor did it have much freeboard even with its light load. Of course the caption stated "according to the Coast Guard the dory is an unsafe boat because it has no flotation, but because the punt does have flotation in it is safe craft". What eventually happened because of National Fisherman's embarrassing cover photograph, is the law was modified such that traditional/classic boats built by backyard boat builders do not have to have flotation. However, should you go into production, you would be caught up in the law once again. I truely believe that flotation can actually be detrimental to a small craft safety in certain cases. Look at the Stonington skiff! Traditionally, it never had floation, was an extremely stable boat, and for its modest 16 foot length could carry enormous loads safely. Shafer's not never got a patent out on it so now it is made by whomever wishes to produced it. The modern version looks exactly like the Stonington skiff of old and it is laid up very well. However, to comply with the Coastguard's regulation on flotation, the current manufacturer placed the required flotation under the deck. It really would not be practical to put it any where else. As a bonus, the craft is now self-bailing as well. After getting into one, I was shocked. Because the deck had now been raised for the flotation, the height between the deck and coaming did not even come up to my knees. I could not now use the craft for bull raking because you got to have your knees supported by the sides or else you have nothing to push off on. Even worse, if one would start to load the craft up with bushels of clams or fish, every thing would have to be placed on the deck which is now much higher than if there were no flotation in place. It does not take genius to figure out that a stable small craft can become very unstable if one raises the center gravity of its load (dead or alive). I really felt like I could fall out of the boat. The manufacturer had done good job in laminating it, and it was a lot of boat for the money, but I could not use it nor did I feel safe in it the way it was. When I asked the manufacturer to build me one without the flotation, he replied "NO"! He further explained, that the Coast Guard had made him jump through so many hoops to get his craft certified under no circumstances would he change anything. One of the tests conducted was the boat was completely swamped, and it still had to float in the upright position. What bugs me, is I am more afraid of falling out the skiff, or having it flip when loaded down with pots, rather than having it get swamped and go down.

__________________
"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go" by William Feather

Randy Stinchcomb

dude, you better check yourself...1st off an anchor is not a required saftey item because Most boat owner/operators Dont even know the proper technique to anchor a vessel in calm sea's let alone in heavy weather, a vessel at anchor can easily become swamped making it more of a danger to itself and others...and those "idiots" you speak of, I hope you think twice about slamming the Coast Guard the next time YOU need assistance... the floatation thing, again as you stated: "when they first came out wth the regulations requiring floatation in boats" well thats why they put an eraser on pencils pal, we ALL learn from our mistakes, jeez, I wish I had a nickel for all the mistakes FoMoCo made over the years, but they still make The Best Trucks........and on the throwable Type IV in the bag, are you joking, you're worried a $5.00 chusion getting all smelly and shit??? what a joke, you're luckie you got off, if it had been me I'd prob have written you up for being an "smartass"...people need to think before they speak.


btw, I am X-Coast Guard, I was a Boatswain Mate and conducted ship/vessel boarding's and yes, I was a Prick.....and if you didn't have all your ducks-inna-row, I wrote you up and or towed your sorry ass to the nearest marina..

__________________
need tackle? www.binnacletackle.com
proud member of:
www.ocmarlinclub.com
www.ocreeffoundation.com