b'S A F E T Y E Q U I P M E N TPHOTO CREDIT - JEFF MARTINSafety EquipmentA s boat operator, your fun on-the water depends on your Be worn by anyone in a manually propelled vessel from Octo-behavior. It is your responsibility to have the safety equip- ber 1 through May 31 (must be Type I, II, II, V or V-hybrid). ment required by law, to keep it on board in good condition, and know how to properly use it. YOU ARE IN COMMAND! Remember: Ski belts are not legal life jackets.Connecticut Life Jacket and Personal Flotation Inflatable life jackets may not be used by persons engaged in Device (PFD) Laws high-speed water sports (such as riding PWCs or waterskiing) and More than 90% of the drowning related boating fatalities maymay not be used by persons weighing under 90 lbs. or under 16 have been avoided by wearing a life jacket. years of age. There must be a wearable life jacket on board for each per- Inflatable life jackets may be a Type III or V. Check the label to son aboard every vessel. determine if it must be worn to count as a personal flotation device. Each life jacket must be readily accessible.All vessels 16 feet and over, except kayaks and canoes, mustEach life jacket must fit the intended wearer. also carry a Type IV throwable device in addition to the requiredIf the vessel is required to have a Type IV throwable PFDnumber of wearable life jackets.(see page 30), it must be immediately available.Navigation rules (part of Federal Law) require all vessels (including manually propelled vessels) to have audible signaling Life jackets must: devices. (See table on page 30.) Be U.S. Coast Guard approved. Have a legible label. Sound Producing Devices Be of the correct size and fit for the wearer. A life jacket Every vessel of 40 ft. (12.2 meters) or less in length must have should fit comfortably snug and never cover your face or ride upsome means of making an efficient sound signal. For vessels up past your ears. to 40 feet in length, a handheld whistle, air horn or similar soundBe in serviceable condition (all straps and buckles must be inproducing devices that is audible formile, may be used. Vessels good condition and able to perform their jobs; all seams and mate- greater than 40 feet must have a power-operated sound producing rial must be intact). device that is audible for one mile and a bell. Be worn by children under 13 years old on any vessel that is underway unless the child is below deck or in an enclosed cabin. Fire Extinguishers Be worn by anyone operating or riding on a PWC.Fires involving burning wood, fabrics and paper (Type A) canBe worn by anyone being pulled behind a boat (such as tub- be put out with water.ing or skiing).Most boat fires consist of burning flammable liquids such as 282021 Connecticut BOATERS GUIDE'