Kids and Life Jackets

[Table Rockin]

My kids are 11.5 and 8.5 and good swimmers. I still make them both wear a life jacket at all times (unless anchored and in the boat). They dont like them obviously and would prefer not to wear them when anchored and swimming. My wife thinks its ok (this coming from Mrs. Safety), but I am not on-board.

Just a question for those with kids or who have them on as guests.....whats your life jacket for kids policy? Age cutoff? Jackets on while underway?

[rrfisher]

13 in Texas while underway. If the boat it touching ground my 10 year old can take his off, but my 6 year old can't. Mine don't mind them and keep them on pretty much anytime we're on the boat, shallow or not.

[Silverbullet555]

My boat my rules. On the boat, both boys and any kids wear life vests. On the dock the oldest can be without a lifevest, but the young one has to have his vest on.

[gdane]

In Missouri I think the age is 12 ?? When we had young ones we said age 12 on the boat and on the dock.

[NautiGirl]

Niece and Nephew ages 6 and 8...jackets at all times no questions asked until you are on land. The older ones swim with the life belts so a little less than a full jacket but its still something...and KY is a 13 and under rule as far as wearing the jackets go....

[AsLan7]

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In Pennsylvania, passengers 12 years of age and under on Commonwealth waters are required to wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while underway on any boat that is under 20 feet in length.

Although our Cobalt is yacht certified measuring over 26', we still require kids under the age of 13 to wear a lifejacket while underway -- and anyone else who desires one as well. We currently carry 15 life jackets on our 263 and carried 15-20 on our 262. They were all the neoprene ones with zippers and twin buckles which are great for tubing since they fit very snugly.

Currently Costco has a great price on them if anyone cares. My goal was to never pay over $50 for a new life jacket purchasing only neon pink and navy blue. The neoprene double buckled zippered ones at Costco are running $39.99.

Btw, the Coast Guard was always impressed when they did a courtesy check and everyone had a high quality life jacket that fit--especially when we had 16 souls on board.

All our kids completed advanced swim lessons as well since we are around the water so much. (2 boys were captain's of the high school team following in dad's, granddad's, and great granddad's footsteps). We have all been lifeguards. This family is a bunch of fish.

2nd pic below is my daughter on my dad's boat. Not a fan of the old style but didn't seem to affect Gracie girl much.

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lifejacket.jpg

[Driller]

13 in Texas while underway. If the boat it touching ground my 10 year old can take his off, but my 6 year old can't. Mine don't mind them and keep them on pretty much anytime we're on the boat, shallow or not.

I follow the law in Texas. Once the boat is moored it is their parents call. If I'm baby sitting then I err on the side of caution. Lake Travis is a deep lake. There is really no where I moor where they can touch bottom. Vest stays on. Hell I usually always have a floaty close, and I've got enough body fat I can float like a log.

[Big Block Power]

Max we let him go without one this year he's 13. Wisconsin is 12 on the boat. Unless he could stand up in the water and the pool he had one on before. We wear one in the lake if we can't touch. On Cumberland all 3 of us had one on in the water.

[Bfun220]

Once the boat is moored it is their parents call. If I'm baby sitting then I err on the side of caution.

+1

[Table Rockin]

Oddly enough the law in MO is age 7.....which i find kind of ridiculous. But its also one of the reasons i ask...i was surprised and wondered if people actually allowed it.

The whole not being able to touch is also an issue at table rock. Your never in a place you can touch and at least 30' of water.

Meh....ill keep on being a scrooge. Ive let them swim without when im right there paying close attention but thats all their getting.

[AsLan7]

Oddly enough the law in MO is age 7.....which i find kind of ridiculous. But its also one of the reasons i ask...i was surprised and wondered if people actually allowed it.

The whole not being able to touch is also an issue at table rock. Your never in a place you can touch and at least 30' of water.

Meh....ill keep on being a scrooge. Ive let them swim without when im right there paying close attention but thats all their getting.

Good call TR. Better to err on the side of conservatism. I'm sure you heard about Bode Miller's toddler drowning in the pool Saturday.
“was only missing for just a short amount of time, and Mom turned and was looking for her and didn’t see her right next to her,”
Devastating.

[Big Block Power]

Oddly enough the law in MO is age 7.....which i find kind of ridiculous. But its also one of the reasons i ask...i was surprised and wondered if people actually allowed it.

The whole not being able to touch is also an issue at table rock. Your never in a place you can touch and at least 30' of water.

Meh....ill keep on being a scrooge. Ive let them swim without when im right there paying close attention but thats all their getting.

Good call TR. Better to err on the side of conservatism. I'm sure you heard about Bode Miller's toddler drowning in the pool Saturday.
“was only missing for just a short amount of time, and Mom turned and was looking for her and didn’t see her right next to her,”
Devastating.

I couldn't imagine. I didn't hear this. Very sad.
I was thinking as the boys were drinking this weekend and then if one fainted what could happen. All of us were floating on or with something. The wife got so mad at some other boaters. The adults were on a noodle and swimming to the falls while holding about a 1 year old with nothing on. Wth are they thinking.

[Table Rockin]

I did hear about that A7....everytime i hear a story like that it just twists my gut.

Yea ok thats crazy BB....wow...

Yea thats what i told my wife, all it takes is that one unforeseen event...its a deep lake.....its not happening.

[Bobo87]

Always follow the law. Under 13 in Texas is mandatory. Even though my thre 9 year olds are all on swim team and strong swimmers, open water is a different story. They must wear them even when swimming off the dock. Open water is much more unpredictable than a swimming pool. Just my rules. Safety first.

[AsLan7]

Always follow the law. Under 13 in Texas is mandatory. Even though my thre 9 year olds are all on swim team and strong swimmers, open water is a different story. They must wear them even when swimming off the dock. Open water is much more unpredictable than a swimming pool. Just my rules. Safety first.

Excellent practice Bb87.