When underway on a boat under 21 feet properly sized PFDs must be worn by children of what age?

All recreational vessels must carry an appropriate lifejacket for each person on board. Lifejackets must be the correct size for the wearer and must be in good working order. Inflatable lifejackets must be properly serviced.

Índice Show

Lifejacket wear requirements on NSW waters
Lifejacket level 100+ (formerly known as Type 1)
Lifejacket level 50 (formerly known as Type 2)
Lifejacket level 50S (formerly known as Type 3)
How old do you have to be to not wear a lifejacket on a boat in Michigan?
What equipment is required on a vessel 16 feet or longer?
Can you carry a gun on a boat in Louisiana?
Do you have to wear a PFD on a motorboat?

Lifejackets must be stored in a location that allows quick and easy access. Lifejackets must be visible to passengers, or their location clearly marked by an unobstructed sign which states ‘LIFEJACKETS’ in red lettering against a white background.

Requirements for wearing lifejackets are outlined here and are summarised in the following table.

Lifejacket wear requirements on NSW waters

What lifejacket am I required to wear on my recreational vessel?
Category (age, boating activity or vessel type)	Lifejacket requirements for enclosed waters	Lifejacket requirements for open waters
Children under 12 years of age.	Level 50S or greater: At all times on a vessel less than 4.8m When in an open area of a vessel less than 8m that is underway.	Level 100 or greater: At all times on a vessel less than 4.8m When in an open area of a vessel less than 8m that is underway.
On all boats less than 4.8m (unless specified).	Level 50S or greater at all times when: Boating between sunset and sunrise Boating on alpine waters Boating alone (without another person 12 years of age or more on the same vessel).	Level 100 or greater at all times.
Personal Watercraft (PWC; e.g. jet skis), including tow-in surfer.	Level 50S or greater at all times.	Level 50S or greater at all times.
Crossing coastal bars.	N/A	At all times as per open waters requirement for the applicable age, boating activity or vessel type.
Anyone being towed (e.g. water-skiing, wakeboarding or wake surfing).	Level 50S or greater at all times.	Level 50S or greater at all times.
Canoes and kayaks.	Level 50S or greater at all times when: Boating between sunset and sunrise Boating on alpine waters Boating alone (without another person 12 years of age or more on the same vessel).	Level 50S or greater at all times.
Sailboarding and kiteboarding (more than 400m from shore).
Off the beach sailing vessel.
When directed by the master of the vessel.	As per enclosed waters requirement for applicable age, boating activity or vessel type.	As per open waters requirement for applicable age, boating activity or vessel type.

# You must wear a lifejacket when directed by the master of a vessel. For example, when the master considers there is heightened risk of an incident occurring, or if it might be difficult for you to help yourself if an incident was to occur. Examples of heightened risk include, but are not limited to, the following:

Boating in inclement weather, such as during a gale warning, storm warning, severe thunderstorm warning or other severe weather event warning issued by the Bureau of Meteorology;
When a yacht does not have safety barriers, lifelines, rails, safety harnesses or jack lines in use
Boating with the elderly, non-swimmers and people with serious medical conditions.
When a vessel has broken down;
When there is a significant likelihood that a vessel may capsize, be swamped by waves or vessel occupants may fall overboard or be forced to enter the water; and
Other similar circumstances.

* The above table is a summary only. For full details, see Marine Safety Regulations.

* Penalties apply for not carrying the required number of lifejackets and for not wearing a lifejacket when required.

*For more information on the lifejacket laws, see our FAQs.

Your lifejacket must comply with:

The Australian Standard for lifejackets (AS 4758); or
The International Standard (ISO 12402); or
One of the approved standards for the lifejacket types listed below.

Lifejacket level 100+ (formerly known as Type 1)

One of the following recognised standards for lifejackets (or lifejacket type) that has been approved by a recognised appraiser:

European Standard EN ISO 12402-2,3,4
Underwriters Laboratories Standards UL 1180 – fully inflatable recreational personal floatation devices
New Zealand Standard NZS 5823:2005

Any standard or specification approved by Transport for NSW (including any standard or specification previously approved by Roads and Maritime Services).

Lifejacket level 50 (formerly known as Type 2)

European Standard EN ISO 12402-5
Any standard or specification approved by Transport for NSW (including any standard or specification previously approved by Roads and Maritime Services).

Lifejacket level 50S (formerly known as Type 3)

European Standard EN ISO 12402-5
Any standard or specification approved by Transport for NSW (including any standard or specification previously approved by Roads and Maritime Services).

A recognised appraiser includes any of the following:

A certifying body accredited by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS–ANZ); or
A laboratory with National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation; or
A notified body in accordance with the European Union Maritime Equipment Directive, Module B (MED–B); or
A body approved by Transport for NSW (including anybody previously approved by Roads and Maritime Services).

The following lifejacket standards have been superseded. Lifejackets carrying these standards will continue to be recognised as acceptable where the lifejacket is in good working order, existed and was in use prior to the commencement of the Marine Safety Regulation 2016 (7 October 2016).

AS 1512-1996, Personal flotation devices - Type 1 (and any previous version of that standard)
AS 2260-1996, Personal flotation devices – Type 3 (and any previous version of that standard)
AS 1499-1996, Personal flotation devices - Type 2 (and any previous version of that standard)

For more information on the lifejacket standards, see our FAQs.

13
Children’s life jacket requirements vary from state to state, however, federal law requires that all children under the age of 13 wear a lifejacket on a moving boat. The only exceptions to this rule are if the child is below deck, in an enclosed cabin, or if the boat is not underway.

When underway on a boat under 21 feet properly sized PFDS must be worn by children of what age?

Under California law, every child under 13 years of age on a moving recreational vessel of any length must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket in serviceable condition and of a type and size appropriate for the conditions and the activity.

How old do you have to be to not wear a lifejacket on a boat in Ontario?

Children under the age of 16 or weighing less than 36 kg may not use an inflatable PFD. The fine for boating without a PFD of appropriate size for each person on board is $200, plus an additional $100 for each missing PFD.

How old do you have to be to not wear a lifejacket on a boat in Michigan?

6 years of age
Michigan Life Jacket Laws: All vessels must be equipped with a PFD for each person on board or being towed. Michigan law requires all children under 6 years of age to wear a USCG–approved Type I or II PFD when riding on the open deck of any vessel while underway.

How much is a ticket for no life jacket in Louisiana?

Life Jackets

State	What are the penalties for violating PFD regulations in your state?
Kansas	Class C misdemeanor fine amount between 0 and 500 dollars set by the court
Kentucky	$50.00 plus court costs
Louisiana	Criminal
Maine	Civil Violation $100 fine

What size boat do you not need a life jacket?

On all boats less than 4.8m (unless specified). Level 50S or greater at all times when: Boating between sunset and sunrise.

What equipment is required on a vessel 16 feet or longer?

All recreational vessels must carry one wearable life jacket for each person on board . Any boat 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry one throwable (Type IV) device . Life jackets should be worn at all times when the vessel is under- way .

Where is the best place to put PFDs while you are put on your boat?

All PFDs should always be in a well-known, clearly visible part of the boat, preferably on the top deck of the boat. It’s the best place for them since it’s near where all the passengers are seated. They can be placed in an open box or bin in a safe corner.

What size boat do you need to wear a life jacket?

Life jackets are compulsory when crossing a designated coastal bar in an open boat that is less than 4.8m in length. A properly-fitting PFD must be worn by all children under 12 when in an open boat under 4.8m while it is underway, not at anchor, made fast to the shore or aground (‘underway’ includes drifting).

Can you carry a gun on a boat in Louisiana?

Louisiana is one of the best states in the U.S. for fishing and boating. The state of Louisiana also issues permits for concealed carry. However, it is shall-issue state, which means that you must meet all gun law provisions before applying for a permit.

How old do you have to be to wear a PFD in Louisiana?

Louisiana law requires that all children age 16 and younger wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, or III PFD while underway on a vessel less than 26 feet long. The PFD must be fastened and properly sized for the child.

How old do you have to be to drive a boat in Louisiana?

Salvage or found boats, or boats with no identification markings must be reported immediately to LDWF. Louisiana law requires that all children age 16 and younger wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, or III PFD while underway on a vessel less than 26 feet long. The PFD must be fastened and properly sized for the child.

Do you have to wear a PFD on a motorboat?

Everyone on board a motorboat less than 16 feet propelled by a hand tiller outboard motor must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, III or V PFD while the motorboat is underway. You must have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type I, II, or III PFD for each person on board a pirogue, canoe, or kayak.

How tall does a boat have to be to have a toilet?

All recreational boats with installed toilet facilities must have an operable marine sanitation device (MSD) on board. Vessels 65 feet and under may use a Type I, II, or III MSD. Vessels over 65 feet must install a Type II or III MSD.