Kids and Life Jackets

[nolaboater99]

In California life jackets are mandatory from 12 and under. My kids and grand kids wore them when the boat was under way. Beached or tied to the dock they could take them off. AND my dogs always wore theirs when under way as well.

[Bobo87]

Good call Nola. None of us would want to lose a furry friend either.

[2ridgebacks]

My 13yr old goes without on the boat, while the 8&6 wear theirs along with any underage friends. When swimming, they can only go without if they stay in water under their nipples.
Everyone probably has a “what could have happened” story.
Here’s mine: my 6 yr old daughter was swimming at a sandbar playing with a ball. There was a breeze that day that caught the ball in knee deep water. The ball was moving much faster than she was and she was soon paddling without a jacket. By this time I was between her and the ball and saw her start to struggle. I moved in pretty quick, but not before she started to get a little bit panicked. It was a good lesson for all. Thankfull it ended the way it did. Even in shallow water, things can change quickly.

[nolaboater99]

Good call Nola. None of us would want to lose a furry friend either.

Here are the two pooches napping in their jackets. We were on our way back from a long boat weekend. Remember....Dogs need weekends too.

Kona & Rica take a nap.jpg

[AsLan7]

Good call Nola. None of us would want to lose a furry friend either.

Here are the two pooches napping in their jackets. We were on our way back from a long boat weekend. Remember....Dogs need weekends too.
Kona & Rica take a nap.jpg

That put a huge smile on my face Bb87. Great shot.

[notstock4long]

MI law is 6 and under must wear a vest while under way. Our kids are 10 and 13, and they wear them any time we are moving/not on the beach. Same goes for kid's friends.

[Bfun220]

I know each state has thier own rule on lifevest. But I believe any water under federal control like the great lakes fall under coastguard rules. So no matter what state its 13 and under.

[TommyTahoe]

I know each state has thier own rule on lifevest. But I believe any water under federal control like the great lakes fall under coastguard rules. So no matter what state its 13 and under.

My youngest was recently so happy, finally to turn 13 and not to wear his- being a strong swimmer and watching his brother sans jacket. Keep it on them as long as you can is my advice.

[liquid]

Kids always have jackets on. Boat and dock. Even on the beach playing in the water. Stories like that make me ill. I don't want to have a story like that.

[Norris_Boating]

Policy on my boat. You are in the water you wear a life vest no matter if you are 1 or 20 or 60. While the boat is moving I am less concerned, though the rule is stay seated while under way. If someone stands up I stop and they get yelled at.
If friends kids comeing are out of control then my policy becomes kids wear life vest all the time. Night boating means all the kids wear vests.