Make sure you are PFD "legal" in your dink!

[Paul J. Rusyniak]

Scott B...
I was also wearing a seat belt way before they were required and wear a PFD "sometimes".
I think both should be my choice.
Paul

 

[Ron McCoy]

We can boat/dink/ski/sail all our lives and never have a boating accident - self imposed or caused by others. But I still believe that boater safety laws are put on the books because accidents/stupidity/carelessness/bad behavior create the need for them. I don't like to be stopped for "routine checks" anymore than the rest of you. But I know the laws and I abide by them - I use the auto inflate PFD - its comfortable and I have others on board who count on me to get them back to shore at the end of the day. I try very hard not to be one of the careless/stupid/bad behaving/lazy ones who cause accidents or don't care about the consequences of their action. I'm not hear to defend the marine patrol/law enforcement guys when they act overbearing/brute/or are a BITA. If it were up to me, we'd have a routine (yearly) inspection of our boats (like most states have for cars). After that leave me alone. When you leave the marina you're on your own. No USCG rescue, no TOWBOAT/US, no helicopters overhead, not anything. Now let the dumb/careless/stupid/inconsiderates reap their rewards and if they drown they're finally off the water not creating havoc for the rest of us. Let's keep boating fun and enjoyable. BTW: Any observation of bad/unbecoming action by any law enforcement official should be reported and dealt with through official channels. Get others involved as witnesses and the bad patrolman problem can be fixed. It takes getting involved when not on the water though. Think about it.

 

[sailaway78]

Why can't I

If I want to go running around in my dink, like a total idiot, as long as I don't endanger others, so what. If I want to kill myself by these actions, it is still my business. As best as I can remember, I have never have had a PFD on in a dink. I do always have one, just choose not to put it on. Usually my dink runs are to the beach, and are pretty short. Probably 75% of that run is in water that I can simply stand up in. Here in this part of the world, it is flat hot in the summer time. A PFD is like wearing a blanket. I just do not believe that most of us need protection from ourselves, by more big Gummint.

 

[Napa Ed]

Here in this part of the world, it is flat hot in the summer time. A PFD is like wearing a blanket.

I wouldn't stop you if you were serious about killing yourself. Nobody saying you have to wear a PFD. Just have it available; which you say you already do, so what's the gripe?

 

[kloudie1]

Napa, Louisiana law now says that we have to wear the PFD.. here is a quote from the law:
All persons onboard a Class A motorboat which is being propelled by a hand tiller outboard motor shall be required to wear a USCG approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device while the motorboat is underway.
Class A is anything less than 16 feet.. so pretty much all folks in a dink have to wear them unless you are rowing.. Bass Pro and West Marine had the inflatables on sale for $69 a month or so back.. I bought two so that the blanket coverage would be less! Again this comes because of the accidents in small flat bottomed aluminum boats, and not in dinks .. most GovMint folks don't understand the difference in inflatables..

 

[jibes138]

This problem has a simple solution

Run for public office, get elected, and then change the laws. Whining and pewling about it will accomplish nothing. Getting involved and redirecting the course of our government is an excellent alternative. I think we should have a moritorium on all new laws. We have more than enough laws already. How about someone run on a platform to repeal all old useless laws, not write any new ones, and then modify the remaining ones so they make sense?
Every other lunatic fringe element in society seems to be in politics, so why not some boaters.

 

[Napa Ed]

Napa, Louisiana law now says that we have to wear the PFD..

Thanks for the education. I did not know that.

 

[txtowman]

if the LEO wrote a ticket for not having a pfd. and did not escort you to shore, in order to make sure you arrived safely he should be liable for any mishap afterwards. That is very irresponsible. evidently its bad enough for a fine but not so much, to require you to discontinue your trip.

think these laws are unreasonable try driving a big truck. you have to log every move you make and are severely limited to when and how long you can take a break each day.

 

[txtowman]

in texas you must have 1 throwable onboard, in addition to 1 wearable for each person on board.

 

[Johnb]

Is it true

If the dink is under 8 feet long and has no mechanical means of propulsion it is not a boat so you would not need a PFD?

John Brecher