Coast Guard Boarding, the sticker works

[knotflying]

As we were traveling down the river towards Elizabeth City, NC a couple of days ago we were approached by the Coast Guard to do an inspection. I pointed to my Auxiliary Coast Guard inspection sticker that I received after my voluntary inspection at our SW Florida Rendezvous and they saluted and left. Not that an inspection is a bad thing, but when you are traveling somewhere, getting sidetracked by an inspection is not very convenient. It is also nice to know you didn't miss anything required when you had the Auxiliary inspection done.
And by the way, if you have one of those auto-inflatable PFD's they need to be wearing them to be considered a PFD for inspection purposes. So if you are at max occupancy and you utilize the auto-inflatables be sure they are being worn.

 

[walldog]

if you have one of those auto-inflatable PFD's they need to be wearing them to be considered a PFD for inspection purposes.

Not sure that is true.

All recreational boats must carry one wearable lifejacket (Type I, II, III or Type V lifejacket) for each person aboard. A Type V lifejacket provides performance of either a Type I, II, or III lifejacket (as marked on its label) and must be used according to the label requirements. Any boat 16ft and longer (except canoes and kayaks) must also carry one throwable lifejacket (Type IV lifejacket).

Lifejackets must be

Coast Guard approved,
in good and serviceable condition, and
the appropriate size for the intended user.
Accessibility

Wearable lifejackets must be readily accessible.
You must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.).
They should not be stowed in plastic bags, in locked or closed compartments or have other gear stowed on top of them.
The best lifejacket is the one you will wear.
Though not required, a lifejacket should be worn at all times when the vessel is underway. A wearable lifejacket can save your life, but only if you wear it.
Throwable devices must be immediately available for use.
Inflatable Lifejackets

Inflatable lifejackets may be more comfortable to wear.
The best lifejacket is the one you will wear.
Inflatable lifejackets require the user to pay careful attention to the condition of the device.
Inflatable lifejackets must have a full cylinder and all status indicators on the inflator must be green, or the device is NOT serviceable, and does NOT satisfy the requirement to carry lifejackets.
Coast Guard Approved Inflatable lifejacket's are authorized for use on recreational boats by person at least 16 years of age.

From: http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/life_ ... acket.aspx

We usually carry more than the minimum required amount of PFDs for the passengers aboard so the question for us may be moot.

 

[sleepyboat]

Mike is correct. An inflatable PDF must be worn to be considered in the count of total PDF’s on board. This subject came up in the Coast Guard course I took some years back and it is the rule I follow unless that has been changed by the CG.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

We just had an inspection, in September, at the Rendezvous in Anacortes when we learned that our inflatable PFD's have to be worn to be considered in our total PFD count.

Jim F

 

[walldog]

I want to be legal AND safe. I usually wear my Type III Coastal auto/manual PFD anytime I leave the cabin. I rarely wear it IN the cabin. Willie puts hers on a few minutes before we plan to dock or anchor. As near as I can tell only Type V auto inflatable PFDs are required to be worn to count. Our last inspection at Fisherman's Terminal in May checked to see that the PFDs were readily available and not covered in a closed locker. But no mention was made of requiring them being worn to count. That could have been an omission though. In looking through the rules, I did find that for a PFD to count, it must not be in a closed compartment, or a locked compartment, or covered up by other gear. As near as I can tell, the wearing requirement only applies to Type V. I did find that our Type IIIs are only good for recreational boating and not valid for commercial service.

I will continue to research.

 

[walldog]

I found this from the USCG site previously referenced:

A Type V, Special-Use Device is intended
for specific activities and may be carried
instead of another life jacket only if used
according to the condition(s) for which it is
approved, as shown on its label . A Type V
provides the performance of a Type I, II,
or III (as marked on its label) . If the label
says the life jacket is “approved only when
worn,” the life jacket must be worn (except
by persons in enclosed spaces) and used
in accordance with the approval label to
meet carriage requirements . Some Type
V devices provide significant hypothermia
protection . Varieties include deck suits, work
vests, sailboarding vests, and sailing vests
with a safety harness .
An Inflatable with Safety Harness is approved only as a Type V,
Special-Use Device because its use to prevent falls overboard presents
several risks . The U .S . Coast Guard has not assessed its potential for
injury from suddenly stopping a fall and, in case of capsizing or sinking,
the boat may take the wearer down, resulting in death . Do not attach
the harness to the boat unless it is being worn with a tether of less than
6 .5 feet in length with quick-release-under-load hardware . Read the
safety harness section of the owner’s manual for intended use. Under
no circumstances should the safety harness be used for any climbing
activity. U.S. Coast Guard approval does not apply to this harness used
under those circumstances.

The red color is my emphasis.

From West Marines site: The Coast Guard requires that water-activated “automatic” inflatables with non-1F inflators have to be worn to be counted in the vessel’s inventory of life jackets. The most recent models with 1F inflators, so-called “stowables,” don’t have to be worn to be counted as inventory. However, this misses the point of inflatable PFDs, which are so comfortable that you’ll wear them while on the water.

Before you say it, I know West Marine is not the authority, but they can point you in the right direction.

From what I can determine, our Type III PFDs are not required to worn in our cabins (enclosed spaces) in order to count. On Willie's Tug, we will try to always wear them when outside the cabin, whether legally required or not.

This is a good discussion. I am not so sure that our Type IIIs are the best choice for some of the waters we travel. In the straits of Juan de Fuca and Georgia, you can encounter some pretty rough water and be quite aways from shore. Maybe the offshore version Type IIs would be more suitable...certainly safer.

 

[bluestreak]

As an added idea to consider.
Equip your PFD with a whistle, a signaling mirror and a strobe light.
Relatively inexpensive.
Hopefully, you will never them but better to have them than not to have them when you do need them.

 

[Crewdog]

Definitely a good discussion.

For some good reading, let me recommend "Deadliest Sea: The Untold Story
of the Greatest Rescue in Coast Guard History"

It's on Kindle, and hardback on Amazon.

Bill

 

[knotflying]

Let's put it this way. I have been told by three Coast Guard personnel that the inflatable jacket must be on to count. So you can not wear it and argue with the officer and get a fine or wear it and be in good standing regardless. I'll go with the latter to play it safe and be safe.

 

[Longbranch Louie]

Ok now Im confused....which is easily done in my case. We were told that if the auto inflating PFD has a plastic window that allows a person to see the green charged indicator then it quals in the on board count. If it doesn't then it must be worn to count.
We keep a few of the supplied orange ones on board in case we take on extra passengers that adds to the count anyway. If we came across people in the water we want something to throw in the water.
Has anyone used one of the fanny pack style units? I don't think they qualify as a type III but look comfortable for an all day type unit.

 

[Crewdog]

There are some inflatable PFds that are rated as type II for recreational boating use, and as type V for commercial use and apparently some rated as either.

I'm quoting an email reply to a question I submitted to USCG:
-------------------------------------
Hi,

All but Type IV PFDs must be readily accessible, which means it can be obtained quickly and used easily. Some areas, in exams done by local law enforcement, might require you to put on the PFD during an inspection. Some areas might just want children to put them on.

The only PFD you will be required to wear during an Coast Guard Auxiliary examination is a Type V. If you have a Type IV PFD (ex. Ring), it must be immediately available on board. Immediately available means that the device must be right at hand, so that if someone were to fall overboard, the Type IV device would be where someone could reach it immediately and throw it to the person in the water.

Even if a PFD is not required to be worn, it would be a good idea to wear a PFD at all times. Especially, an inflatable PFD, which is not restrictive like other PFDs might seem. A PFD can only save your life, or the life of your children and others on board, if it is worn.

If you have anymore questions, please drop a line. Thank you and safe boating!!


Louis Dellis, BC-VTT
US Coast Guard Auxiliary
National Department of Vessel Examinations
Branch Chief - Technical Support