I attended a boat safety class with my two oldest children this weekend. I took boat safety about 30 years ago or it seems that way so I went through it with the kids to brush up and see what the class was like.
Anyway, during the discussion about PFDs/life jackets I heard something I didn’t know. First let me explain that I am in WI and this may vary by state. We were told that the inflatable vests, those which automatically inflate when they get wet do not count to the number of life vests you have in your boat if you aren’t wearing it at the time you are checked.
When I questioned this a bit further trying to get clarification because most of the vests have manual and automatic inflation the instructor said the automatic inflation makes them a type V(5) pfd and must be worn at all times to count if you are checked on the water.
I was still skeptical today so I called the WI DNR and talked to someone who said it counted and then he stopped and said he would talk with a warden. When he came back he said that he was wrong and that it only counted if you were wearing the vest.
So if you and a buddy are fishing and you have one of the inflatables you better have it on because if the warden or other law enforcement check you and you don’t they can write you a ticket unless you have other non-inflatables handy and enough for all the folks in your boat.
The reason I am posting this is that it came as a shock to me and I would hate for someone to get caught during an inspection like I would have had I not taken the class.
Thanks for sharing. Bret just told my I was violatin’ a couple of times last year. 