Did you know that your chances of dying from going overboard are five times greater in winter months than in the summer? If you were to become immersed in cold water for even a short period of time, manual dexterity will be lost within 10 minutes. This will impeded your ability to swim or put on a life jacket, which could lead to drowning long before hypothermia even begins to set in. For that reason, the Sea Tow Foundation wants to remind boaters to always wear their life jackets once the temperatures begin to drop.

A total of 7 northern states have laws requiring life jackets to be worn by boaters during typically cold weather months. Many of these requirements specifically mention that the life jackets must be USCG-approved and mention specfic types of Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) that must be worn. While each state's policy may differ, it is important to follow these laws. 

Connecticut: USCG-approved life jackets must be worn by anyone in a manually propelled vessel from October 1 through May 31 (must be a Type I, II, III, V or V-hybrid PFD).

Maine: All boaters canoeing or kayaking on the Saco River between Hiram Dam and the Atlantic Ocean between January 1 and June 1 must wear a life jacket (Type I, II or III PFD).

Maryland: A person aboard a boat, raft or tube shall wear a USCG-approved life jacket (Type I, II, III or V PFD) at all times while underways on the Upper Potomac River and its tributaries, during the period beginning each November 15 and ending each May 15. 

Massachusetts: All boaters canoeing or kayaking from September 15 - May 15 are requied to wear a USCG-approved life jacket (Type I, II or III PFD).

New York: The mandatory life jacket requirement applies to everyone aboard boats less than 21 feet in length, including rowboats, canoes and kayaks, between November 1 and May 1.

Pennsylvania: Boaters are required to wear USCG-approved life jackets on boats less than 16 feet in length or any cane or kayak during the cold weather months from November 1 through April 30.

West Virginia: A person aboard a boat, raft or tube must wear a USCG-approved life jacket (Type I, II, III or V PFD) at all times while underway on the Shenandoah River within the boundaries of West Virginia during the period beginning each November 15 and ending each May 15.

Even if your state doesn’t have a cold weather life jacket wear requirement, it is a smart and safe idea to wear a life jacket any time the water temperature drops below 60 degrees. It is also important to ensure that the life jacket you are wearing is appropriate for the type of activity that you will be participating in. Life jackets save lives, but only if they are worn.

Tow Bee Boating Safety Tip: Keep Life Jackets on Hand!

No matter what body of water you call home, it’s required by law to have enough life jackets on-board for each of your boat’s passengers. And, they need to be the correct size for each passenger. This means that if you have children on board, the orange horse-collar life jackets stored under your seats won’t work. First of all, you’ll need to make sure to have child-size life jackets in the correct size for each child. Secondly, you’ll also need to make sure any children under the age of 13 wear their life jackets at all times while underway as this is required by the U.S. Coast Guard. Lastly, it wouldn’t be a bad idea for the adults to put on their life jackets, too. Comfortable options including inflatable life jackets are now available and will keep the day on the water safe. After all, 87% of people who drown every year were within reach of a life jacket, but they didn’t have time to put it on.

So, if you’re heading out with new guests, make sure you have properly-fitting life jackets for everyone. If you don’t have enough life jackets or need a specific size to fit a new guest, be sure to stop by one of our many Life Jacket Loaner Stations located at boat ramps, fuel docks and marinas all over the country and borrow one for the day at no charge!

Click here for more Tow Bee Boating Safety Tips!