I’ll admit I rarely wear mine. I’ve seen enough horror stories that I am going to start wearing it and not just keep it in storage. Do you wear them just while driving/moving and take it off once you’re actually fishing or do you wear yours all the time regardless of conditions?
100% of the time for me for the last 4 years.
On plane, trolling, floating, doesn’t matter. 5 degrees or 105 degrees. No exceptions. I WILL COME HOME TO SEE MY KIDS
If you’re wise enough to wear a seat belt in your truck, you’re wise enough to wear a PFD in your boat…..
It’s also recently become mandatory for any and all of my passengers. Nobody is drowning under my watch. I couldn’t live with myself if they ever did.
I used to just encourage it, now I’m enforcing it.
If you don’t want to wear a life jacket, you can find another boat to fish in.
Also, no bananas in the boat 
That will get you kicked out too
I have a Type V (Onxy?) and it’s so small and lightweight, I don’t even notice I have it on… Clip the kill-switch to the loop on front when underway and good-to-go. I do, however, forget sometimes to unclip the kill-switch when stopping to drop the TM. 
I have an onyx and another inflatable. I forget I have them on. I put my keys in the pocket so I can’t lose them if I fall in.
I read a report from the WI DNR(?) 10 or so years i. Close to 50 percent of the States drowning victims were males with their zipper down. (fell over while relieving themselves.)
If a person thinks about it, the chances of a person needing a PFD is much less while moving over anchored/spot locked. When the boat is moving at speed, you would have to hit something and toss a person out of the boat.
While anchored, loosing balance, a wave, a broken chair that you were leaning on and in you go.
Get yourself a comfortable inflatable, take care of it, follow the directions and wear it 100% of the time. Mic drop.
Depending on both air and water temps, the inflatables often get removed when actually angling in my boat, but are worn when under power. If it’s t-shirt and shorts weather and I am either anchored or trolling, they get removed – except in fast current. Anchored while slip bobbering a reef on a calm summer eve – and I will not be wearing it…. trolling Superior with 50 deg water temps – yep, it’ll be on.
I am very honest about my ability to survive in the water. I swim about as well as a 1968 Buick LeSabre. I have my life jacket on all the time.
S.R.
if im alone 100% of the time kill switch and life jacket. i have an auto inflate which is nice but most of the time i wear a regular life jacket because it gives me a sense of added security against inflation failure.
i generally wear PFD 100% of the time when im with the family but will sometimes take it off if we are anchored. my kids are never allowed to remove theirs EVER! The wife only wears one if we go swimming. It bothers me but she is stubborn and id rather enjoy my afternoon than fight all day. I keep trying with her though.
I wear it most of the time when I’m alone at high speed. As soon as I stop to fish, the kill switch and inflatable are off.
So I was stopped last fall by a sheriff. Only boat on the whole lake. He told us we needed to wear the inflatables for them to be counted towards a life jacket on board. I do not believe the boating regs state this? Anyone know more about it?
I hate to say it but I almost never wear mine. I know I should but just cant get use to doing so after all of these years not wearing one. I am a good swimmer and feel comfortable in my ability to get back into my boat should I fall out ( I actually have practiced this many times ) All this said I think it is a great idea and would encourage everyone to do so.
By the way – I wear my car seat belt 100% of the time – I guess I’m just not wise enough !!!
Good info. I’ve never fallen out of a boat but I need to be less naive and think it’ll never happen to me. Those of you that issue PSA’s on PFD’s broke through to at least one person.
The regs state they must be “accessible.” That is obviously subject to variability and what you or the officer considers to be accessible. I have been pulled over (while fishing with the bow mount, not with the main motor) by the water patrol and he asked to see my PFD which was in under my seat. They accepted this as accessible. Bear in mind I wear mine when I am moving from point A to point B with the outboard and attach a lanyard to the kill switch, especially in the spring and fall when the water is very cold. I’m a good swimmer (swam competitively when I was younger), but when you dunk into 50 degree water, your ability to make a decision and not panic is hindered greatly. Some people just wear them all the time, regardless of time of year and regardless of how fast or slow the boat is moving, or if its even moving at all.
I do not mandate that my passenger or passengers wear one while in my boat. I have one for them, but that’s their personal decision. I also have one for my dog to wear when the water is cold this time of year.
I wear it most of the time when I’m alone at high speed. As soon as I stop to fish, the kill switch and inflatable are off.
So I was stopped last fall by a sheriff. Only boat on the whole lake. He told us we needed to wear the inflatables for them to be counted towards a life jacket on board. I do not believe the boating regs state this? Anyone know more about it?
yes this is stated in the regs. im sure someone can post the exact page in the book but for an inflatable to count as a PDF it must be worn
dug this up. i guess it goes off of the individual life jacket and what the coast guard says on it. more here
yes this is stated in the regs. im sure someone can post the exact page in the book but for an inflatable to count as a PDF it must be worn
I believe you are 100% correct – To count as a approved PDF – Inflatables must be worn – This was confirmed by a water sheriff while I was in a buddies boat last year
Form the boating regs book:
“Some inflatable life jackets are required to be worn in order to be counted as one of your U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable flotation devices — check the label for indication. Inflatables are not approved for use on personal watercraft or while water- skiing or similar sports. Always read the label for intended use and follow any restrictions.
Before purchasing, make sure that “U.S. Coast Guard Approved” is visible somewhere on the package or on the device itself.”
This does not give a solid answer…
Not enough to wear your PFD if you are driving the boat. Remember to attach your kill switch lanyard to your vest ALWAYS.
Inflatables are only considered a valid PFD when wearing them. Normal PFDs can be stored if easily accessible. If in a locker or under a floor door that is OK, but you have to be able to open the door and get it out right away and not have to dig for it. I always have enough regular pfds for the maximum passenger limit for my boat in the front floor and then my wife and I wear our inflatables sometimes. I have always heard that the throw cushion needs to be easily accessible and not just plain accessible like the pfds.. So I always take mine out of the floor locker when I launch and have it on the floor ready to throw.
I have a Cabelas auto inflatable and wearing 98% of the time. I have taken it off a time or 2 when it was really hot and were using the bow mount. It is uncomfortable for me when I am wearing a heavy coat because it tends to bunch up at the back of my neck, but I wear it.
IMHO you would never get it over your head if it has deployed so I am guessing thats why it must be worn to be legal.
To be honest I have not worn one since my parents made me as a kid. I get what can happen and know I really should, the kids when I can get them on the boat always have one on. The rare chance the wife is even in the boat it goes on at the dock! Lol. I have been really considering going with the inflatable lately.
There are different types of PFDs. Type II, III and V are the most common in MN. Type II are the orange horse collar ones. Type III are regular vests, some inflatables and float coats. Type V are the specialty use devices which include whitewater vests, duck hunting coveralls and some inflatables. Type V are the style that must be worn. My Cabela’s brand PFD is a Type III and does not have to be worn. An Onyx I have is a Type V and states it does need to be worn. I’ll get pics later.
I always wear my pfd. My brother won’t wear one ever. I hardly ever put the kill switch tether on even though I know I should. When I do use it I always forget to unhook when getting to a fishing spot.
100% of the time for me for the last 4 years.
On plane, trolling, floating, doesn’t matter. 5 degrees or 105 degrees. No exceptions. I WILL COME HOME TO SEE MY KIDS
If you’re wise enough to wear a seat belt in your truck, you’re wise enough to wear a PFD in your boat…..
It’s also recently become mandatory for any and all of my passengers. Nobody is drowning under my watch. I couldn’t live with myself if they ever did.
I used to just encourage it, now I’m enforcing it.
If you don’t want to wear a life jacket, you can find another boat to fish in.
I take my Grandson out, I take my Granddaughter’s husband out, I take my best friend out. I don’t want to explain to anyone, why their loved one did not return home.
For the last five years or so 100% for me no matter the temperature. I have an auto inflatable. Made sure it was big enough to adjust to fit over cold weather clothing. Many times forget I have it on until I am in the vehicle towing the boat home.
I used to never wear it, then I had kids and saw this commercial, wear it 100% of the time since
I hate to say it but I almost never wear mine. I know I should but just cant get use to doing so after all of these years not wearing one. I am a good swimmer and feel comfortable in my ability to get back into my boat should I fall out ( I actually have practiced this many times ) All this said I think it is a great idea and would encourage everyone to do so.
By the way – I wear my car seat belt 100% of the time – I guess I’m just not wise enough !!!
It’s not about being a good swimmer. I could confidently swim three miles in warm water wearing trunks (with some back floats to rest of course) lol
If I fell in 50 degree water wearing a jacket, bibs and boots, I don’t know if I could swim 30 feet….
I’ll never forget my personal conversation with a widow about her husband drowning the day it happened.
It was on East Balsam about 17 years ago.
Her husband was on the bow of the boat and they were putzing around with the trolling motor. He bent over for something or leaned back and fell right in head first.
She was bawling to me (a complete stranger mind you) and said “He just sank…” 
Those three words will stick with me the rest of my life.
He could swim and was in decent shape if I remember right. It was the middle of summer and the lake was warm. Another person on the boat with them dove in right away and couldn’t find him.
It was presumed that he took a reactionary breath as he went in, and likely another underwater…..and literally sank.
It was a horrible story I’ll never forget. Since that day, I’ve probably heard or read about 100 other people that have drown, including some people I knew through other people
The 38 year old man and 10 year old girl who drown on the Duluth beach a couple years ago from a rip tide was married to a girl in my class growing up.
Our local Game Warden drown last year, he forgot to don his PFD in the heat of the moment and paid with his life.
There are countless others.
I might die in a car accident or from punishing my liver, but I’m not going to drown without a lifejacket on.
It’s senseless and so preventable….
Please guys, just wear the damn thing. It makes me sick and visibility upset just reading about a drowning, and I don’t want it to be one of you, or someone you know.
http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/lost-best-friend/
I wear a vest type most of the time. Keeps me warm when it’s chilly and it’s comfortable. Only thing wrong with it is I bought it a week before I sold the Skeeter and it has Skeeter plastered all over it. 
I look a little funny in my Skeeter life vest driving in my Lund. 
Rootski swims better then I do. 
I bought a inflatable I wear in cold weather but once the water warms up I rarely wear one unless I am running water that makes me pucker. My tether is always on.
I always wear my pfd. My brother won’t wear one ever. I hardly ever put the kill switch tether on even though I know I should. When I do use it I always forget to unhook when getting to a fishing spot.
Half the fun of the tether is forgetting you are wearing it and then ripping it off when you get up. I usually go to leave and have a panic attack the boat won’t start. It’s usually as I’m about to float into a wing dam.
Get yourself a comfortable inflatable, take care of it, follow the directions and wear it 100% of the time. Mic drop.
^^^^^ yep, what he said
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