Watercraft must carry approved personal flotation devices; people being towed must wear one, and children 12 or under on board must wear one when the watercraft is underway.
5-331 - Personal flotation devices; requirements; exceptions 5-331 . Personal flotation devices; requirements; exceptions A. All watercraft, except sailboards, shall carry United States coast guard approved personal flotation devices of the type and category prescribed by regulations of the commission. There shall be one such device in good and serviceable condition for each person on board and so placed as to be readily accessible for immediate use. B. Any person who is being towed behind a watercraft shall wear a wearable personal flotation device while being towed except for a performer who is engaged in a professional exhibition. C. A child who is twelve years of age or under and who is on board a watercraft shall wear a properly fitting United States coast guard approved wearable personal flotation device whenever the watercraft is underway. D. Subsection C of this section does not apply to either of the following: 1. Small passenger vessels that are not for hire on navigable waters, that maintain a coast guard certificate of inspection and that are being operated by United States coast guard licensed pilots within a distance of one-fourth mile from the nearest shore as a means of transporting passengers and when the duration of time the vessel is underway on the water does not exceed ten minutes. 2. Rowing shells that are being used for the purposes of practice, training or rowing competitions if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The rowing practice, training or competition is being supervised by a coach who is certified by a nationally recognized rowing association and who is in a launch in close proximity to the rowing shell. (b) The launch complies with the requirements of a nationally recognized rowing association and carries lifesaving equipment on board. (c) The operator of the rowing shell has successfully passed a swimming test that is certified by a nationally recognized rowing association.