Laws and Safety Equipment

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PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES (PFD)

PFDs on the Shenandoah River

A person aboard a vessel, raft, or tube must wear a USCG Approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device at all times while underway on the Shenandoah River within the boundaries of West Virginia during the period beginning at 12:01 a.m. each November 15 and ending at 12 midnight each succeeding May 15.

Children Must Wear PFDs

No person shall operate a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel that is 26 feet or less in length, unless every person on board who is 11 years of age or less is wearing a type I, II, III, or V Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device while that motorboat, sailboat, or vessel is underway.

Does not apply to a person operating a sailboat on which a person who is 11 years of age or less is restrained by a harness tethered to the vessel, or to a person operating a vessel on which a person who is 11 years of age or less is in an enclosed cabin.

• Any person on board a personal watercraft or any person being towed behind a vessel on water skis, an aquaplane, or similar device, except for any underwater maneuvering device intended for use by a submerged swimmer, shall wear a type I, II, III, or V Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device. An underwater maneuvering device is any towed or self-powered apparatus that a person can pilot through diving, turning, and surfacing maneuvers that is designed for underwater use.
• In lieu of wearing a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device of a type described, any person engaged in slalom skiing on a marked course or any person engaged in barefoot, jump, or trick waterskiing may elect to wear a wetsuit designed for the activity and labeled by the manufacturer as a water ski wetsuit.
• A Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device of a type described in this subdivision shall be carried in the tow vessel for each skier electing to wear a water ski wetsuit pursuant to this paragraph.

The requirements do not apply to a person operating a motorboat, sailboat, or vessel if the operator is reacting to an emergency rescue situation.

Life Jacket, Vest, PFD
Whatever you call them, they will save your life…

PFD- Selecting The Right One

Read the inside label of a life jacket for restrictions, size, weight, and USCG approval. Most life jackets are made for general boating activities, but some are only for specific activities. Read the label to ensure the life jacket is appropriate for the intended wearer and activity.

The Correct Fit

• Put on the life jacket, ensuring all straps, zippers and ties are fastened firmly and correctly.
• Raise your arms over your head (reach for the sky).
• Have someone firmly lift the life jacket straight up by the shoulders.
• The life jacket must stay in place. If it rises above your nose or mouth, so will water!

Test Your PFD

• Test your life jacket in a pool or shallow water to see how you float.
• Relax and let your head tilt slightly back.
• The life jacket must keep your chin above water.
• If you are a large person, consider a Type I or inflatable life jacket to support your body weight.

The 5 Types of PFDs

Inflatable life jackets are rated at different Type levels (I, II, III or V). Always check the label to determine the Type level of your PFD. Inflatable life jackets are not to be worn by anyone under 16 years of age, Personal Watercraft riders, skiers/tubers/wakeboarders, or while boating in whitewater.

Type I – Offshore. Provides sufficient floatation to keep most adults turned face up, even if unconscious Large, bulky, and hot, but provides the most flotation (22 pounds) of the inherently buoyant life jackets. Recommended for non-swimmers. The Type I Hybrid life jacket provides both foam and an inflatable system in one jacket.

Type V – Wearable Special Use Device. Hybrids include some inflatable life jackets, wet suits and survival suits. Must be worn for the activity stated on the label for it to meet carriage requirements.

Serviceability Requirements

• Metal or plastic hardware used to secure the PFD that is broken, deformed, or weakened by corrosion;
• Webbings or straps used to secure the PFD on the wearer that are ripped, torn, or which have become separated from an attachment point on the PFD; or
• Any other rotted or deteriorated structural component that fails when tugged.
• Rips, tears, or open seams in fabric or coatings, that are large enough to allow the loss of buoyant material;
• Buoyant material that has become hardened, non-resilient, permanently compressed, waterlogged, oil-soaked, or which shows evidence of fungus or mildew; or
• Loss of buoyant material or buoyant material that is not securely held in position.

In addition to meeting the requirements of above, an inflatable PFD, including the inflatable components of a hybrid inflatable PFD, must be equipped with:

• A properly armed inflation mechanism, complete with a full inflation CO2 cartridge and all status indicators showing that the inflation mechanism is properly armed:
• Inflatable chambers that are all capable of holding air;
• Oral inflation tubes that are not blocked, detached, or broken;
• A manual inflation lanyard or lever that is not inaccessible, broken, or missing;
• Inflator status indicator that is not broken or otherwise non-functional.
• The inflation system of an inflatable PFD need not be armed when the PFD is worn inflated and meets the rest of the requirements.

Carriage Requirements (wearing it is the best choice):

• Type I, II, or III wearable PFDs must be readily accessible.
  "Readily Accessible" means the PFDs are stowed where they can be easily reached, or are out in the open ready for wear. A readily accessible PFD cannot be in a protective covering or under lock and key.
• Type IV throwable PFD must be immediately available.
  "Immediately available" means the PFD shall be quickly reachable in an emergency situation. An immediately available PFD cannot be in a protective covering, in a closed compartment or under other equipment.
• Type V must meet labeling requirements stamped on the inside of the PFD. In most cases, the Type V must be worn in order for it to meet the legal carriage requirements.

Other Situations

• High boat traffic – increased boat traffic elevates the risk of collision.
• Severe weather – high seas and winds increase the chance of capsizings and swamping.
• Dangerous water conditions – swift water, especially at or near low-head dams, create unsafe conditions and need to be avoided.
• Dangerous local conditions – rip tides, water intakes and discharges, shoaling and unmarked hazardous areas are of concern when boating in unfamiliar waters.
• When off-shore – the further away from land you travel, the greater the need to wear a PFD.
• Operating at night – night boating presents hazards such as unseen floating objects, difficult visibility and unlit structures.
• When boating alone – always consider wearing a PFD when boating solo as there is no one available to assist you should you end up in the water. Attempting to put on a vest after you are in the water is a tiring, extremely difficult maneuver, especially in a situation where the water is cold, or the waves are high, and you are experiencing a life-threatening situation.