On the water!

[3 Squids]

Originally Posted by Troutkiller2006

you sure about not needing the life vest on when anchored? here its all people 12 years and under must have a vest on at all times on all vessels under 26'. unless i reading it wrong. i woulda thought cg regs were federal and wouldnt vary state to state. my boy is 10 and swims like a fish. belongs to a local swim team and thinks he dont need to wear one cause they so cumbersome. and i dont blame him when we fishing. but i make him wear it in the harbor and when underway. we keep an eye out for marine patrol when fishing.

gonna look at that reg again cause we always thought it was funny that when we jump out the boat for a swim or to cool off he doesnt need it. but as soon as he gets back in the boat hes gotta put it on

This is copied and pasted from VaDGIF's website:

Federal Life Jacket Rule for Children Under 13 Years Old—No person may operate a recreational vessel on federal waters with any child under age 13 on the vessel unless each child is either:

Wearing an appropriate life jacket approved by the Coast Guard; or
Below deck or in an enclosed cabin.

Key word here is Operated. I had a coast guard guy test drive my boat I had for sale and I asked him to clear this up for me that there's no loopholes or anything and he assured me that as long as the vessel isn't being operated a child doesn't have to have one on.

[Troutkiller2006]

cant copy and paste for some reason but msdmr says 12 and under, while underway, less than 26'. so thats good news for my kid and thats the way we did it anyway. question now is does working a bank with a trolling motor count as "underway"?

[bradford]

Originally Posted by Troutkiller2006

cant copy and paste for some reason but msdmr says 12 and under, while underway, less than 26'. so thats good news for my kid and thats the way we did it anyway. question now is does working a bank with a trolling motor count as "underway"?

Def not any attorney, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

Working the bank under any kind of propulsion, yes.

Drifting with the tide, no.

Makes me wonder with the new technology, Is a Merc Sky Hook or a gps controlled trolling motor considered to be underway?

Probably as long as it generates revenue.

[Striper80]

Originally Posted by bradford

Def not any attorney, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once.

Working the bank under any kind of propulsion, yes.

Drifting with the tide, no.

Makes me wonder with the new technology, Is a Merc Sky Hook or a gps controlled trolling motor considered to be underway?

Probably as long as it generates revenue.

I read somewhere that drifting is considered underway. A sailboat has the right of way over a powerboat drifting was what I read. It was on the Internet so it must be true.

[SkunkBoat]

drifting is underway.
If you are not tied to the dock or anchored or out of the water, you are underway.
If you are underway, you are operating the vessel.

[inaforty]

Heck anyone that's 12 or younger walking down a dock has to have a PFD.

[3 Squids]

Sorry for the thread hijacking Jeb. We kind of got sidetracked.

I'm sure all states have different regs. Just so happens here in Va. we do not have state laws when it comes to PFD's, we must go by federal laws. As for kids not having vests on while anchored, I don't believe it is a good practice. My 2 and 4 year olds never have them off. We put them on when we get to the dock and take them off when we are putting them back in the truck. The only reason my 5mo. old takes hers off is she's a breastfed baby and it's practically impossible to do when she's in the jacket. Now when the kids get older, say 7-8 I may let them take them off when anchored. Just scared the little punks will hop right out now.