Texas Life Jacket Laws

[ck1105]

This may be a silly question but what is the age where a child no longer has to wear a life jacket? I used to know this but I dont have kids and my brain got full so it dumped some information. Reason I ask is that my girlfriend's brother is bringing his family on the boat this weekend and I want to make sure I am legal. Thanks

[east tx skier]

RE: Texas Life Jacket Laws

"All children under 13 years of age in motorboats under 26 feet in length must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while underway. Underway means not at anchor, made fast to the shore, or aground. "

So 12 and under.

Interestingly, a skier or wakeboarder is not required to wear a floatation device at all so long as there is one in the boat. I guess that's good since my impact vest isn't USCG approved.

[ck1105]

Thanks for the quick response. I read the law but the kid is 13 I wasnt sure which way that went. Good stuff.

Cameron

[AirTool]

Re: RE: Texas Life Jacket Laws

"All children under 13 years of age in motorboats under 26 feet in length must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while underway. Underway means not at anchor, made fast to the shore, or aground. "

So 12 and under.

Interestingly, a skier or wakeboarder is not required to wear a floatation device at all so long as there is one in the boat. I guess that's good since my impact vest isn't USCG approved.

Good work e_t_s.

1. I'm in Texas. Up until I was 13, Dad always wanted to drift fish. I preferred to anchor so I could take the &*$#(&* vest off.

2. Note the skier's PFD in the boat must be USCG.

3. Clarification on your skier PFD comment. From TWPD rules "Any person being towed by a PWC is considered an occupant of the PWC and is required to wear a life jacket."

[gride300]

RE: Re: RE: Texas Life Jacket Laws

that's a long time to wear a life jacket

[sstexan]

I just got pulled over today on Conroe. He wanted to give me a ticket for not having a type IV flotation cushion. I had no idea that was a law in Texas. Supposedly you have to have a throw cusion within arms reach. Also, on Conroe, you must have a orange flag when a skier is down, or you are pulling someone at less than planing speeds.

[AirTool]

I just got pulled over today on Conroe.....

"Vessels 16 feet and longer, excluding canoes and kayaks, are required to be equipped with one Type IV throwable PFD in addition to the Type I, II, III, or V PFD required for each person on board."

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publicat...br_l2000_0001/

Don't forget the blower, horn, extinguisher (one that reads "good"...they check), etc.

Also relatively new in Texas is the registration card that matches your TX numbers on the hull. You have to have that in the boat.

The only thing odd about the last time I was stopped on a public lake, is that he didn't ask me for any identification. He did ask for the registration card...but he didn't ask if I was the owner. I guess because there is no law for me to be the owner or have identification. Maybe if he can't give me a ticket for it...he doesn't check for it.

[Christopher-W.-Becker]

I keep my throwable drooped over the pylon (216 its just behind the drive) and on top of the rope. Two reasons, easy reach and the darn thing has a tendency to find part of the body to hurt and the throwable helps cusion the blow.

WATCH TYPES. In Michigan: "Children less than 6 years of age must wear a Type I or Type II PFD when riding in the open deck area of a boat. " That means the big bulge in the back behind the head. Neoprene and the Type III type most of have wont cut it.

Here are the regulations for all 50 states in a table by topic.

http://www.nasbla.net/referenceguide/

Allows you to check BEFORE you travel. JEFF might be good to add this somewhere to the site in the references section......

Also, the Coast Gaurd has a great information site which is a great place to start.

http://www.uscgboating.org/index.aspx

Hope it keeps at least one person from getting a ticket........

Have a great and SAFE summer ALL

[AirTool]

Hope it keeps at least one person from getting a ticket........

...or getting hurt.

Another comment. I've not seen it in writing, but I'm pretty sure one can be ticketed for being over the weight limit for a PFD. My 55 pound 8 year old still fits best in an up to 50 vest. It floats him just fine in calm/slightly choppy water. The next size vest rides up on him when in the water and is more dangerous in my opinion.

Most of my time is on a private lake with glassy water. On public lakes, I make him wear the big one in the boat but let him wear the tight one when towed. I'd rather have it fit him...and just pay or contest the ticket if I get one.

[BigBald]

Always check the sate laws before you go. There are always small little differences. For instance, in IL, you have to have a paddle in the boat. And I have also heard that in some states you have to have an old fashion whistle. I guess that's in case your horn dies and you still need to flag someone down??? So, I have one stashed in my First Aid kit.

Anyway, I boat out of state often, and I always search the net for the laws and guidlines.....It's a good habit to do that, and to check your own state each spring to see if there are any changes.

[east tx skier]

Re: RE: Texas Life Jacket Laws

"All children under 13 years of age in motorboats under 26 feet in length must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved PFD while underway. Underway means not at anchor, made fast to the shore, or aground. "

So 12 and under.

Interestingly, a skier or wakeboarder is not required to wear a floatation device at all so long as there is one in the boat. I guess that's good since my impact vest isn't USCG approved.

Good work e_t_s.

1. I'm in Texas. Up until I was 13, Dad always wanted to drift fish. I preferred to anchor so I could take the &*$#(&* vest off.

2. Note the skier's PFD in the boat must be USCG.

3. Clarification on your skier PFD comment. From TWPD rules "Any person being towed by a PWC is considered an occupant of the PWC and is required to wear a life jacket."

PWC? Assuming that applies to boats as well, if they are an occupant, they only have to wear a life jacket until age 13. I'll check the rules again, but I didn't see that language you quoted the first time through.

On the link above, for Texas, it says skier not required to wear a PFD, but does not specify that there must be one in the boat.

[AirTool]

RE: Re: RE: Texas Life Jacket Laws

PWC? Assuming that applies to boats as well, if they are an occupant, they only have to wear a life jacket until age 13. I'll check the rules again, but I didn't see that language you quoted the first time through.

Not sure what you mean here. You are right on the 13 in the boat biz. The PWC rules don't apply to boats. PWC rules are:

1. "each occupant must wear a life jacket;"

2. "Any person being towed by a PWC is considered an occupant of the PWC, and is required to wear a life jacket."

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/fishboat/boat/laws/pwc/

On the link above, for Texas, it says skier not required to wear a PFD, but does not specify that there must be one in the boat.

Once the skier gets back in the boat, there has to be at least one USCG PFD in there for each person. The Non-USCG vest he boarded with won't count. I'm just saying that the Non-USCG vest doesn't count.

AirTool

[east tx skier]

RE: Re: RE: Texas Life Jacket Laws

The PWC was a reference to your last quote. Anyhow, that's correct, the skier is an occupant of the boat and there must be a USCG approved vest in the boat for him. But I still don't think he has to wear an approved vest while skiing. Just misunderstood what you were getting at.

[Hollywood]

RE: Re: RE: Texas Life Jacket Laws

ETS, I think it means if you are skiing behind a PWC you need to be wearing a vest while skiing.

[east tx skier]

Makes sense to me. Bottom line, if you're someone who, due to youth is required to wear one in the boat, then you're required to wear one on the water. If you're skiing behind something that, were you in it, you would be required to wear a vest, then you're required to wear a vest while you ski.

Air Tool and I are basically agreeing with one another over and over. I'll plead to not firing on all cylinders due to lack of sleep. Ah parenthood.