Archive for the ‘Accessories’ Category
Life Vest Laws
Depending on where you are in the country, the weather is beginning to hint at spring. Just last week Seattle and San Francisco enjoyed some of the warmest weather in the country. Not to shabby for the first week of February! As the temperature rises, more and more people will flock to shores and lakes for boating.
No matter where you are in the country, you need to obey the life vest laws. For instance, in Washington state, all children under 12 years of age traveling in a boat 19 feet long or shorter must wear a life vest or life jacket at all times. Life jackets on board must be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Life vests must be easily accessible in case of a boating accident or emergency. Even if your state’s law isn’t stringent, wearing a life vest or keeping one near by is a good safety precaution, even if you are floating down the river in an inflatable pontoon.
Coast Guard Requirements
Before you head out on the water, make sure you know what the Coast Guard requirements are for your vessel. Standard requirements include having enough life vests for everyone on board, as well as being equipped with life preservers. Even watercrafts like stand-up paddle boards have safety requirements.
Stand-up paddle surfing longboards are classified by the U.S. Coast Guard as vessels. With this classification comes a new set of rules, such as riders being required to wear a personal flotation device, like a sea eagle life vest, when paddling in certain areas. The Canadian Coast Guard has similar rules, though SUP surfers are only required to have a life vest, they don’t necessarily have to wear them. Traditional surfing near the coast does not require the wearing of a life vest. Remember, ignorance of the law is not an excuse so check the rules before you head out.
Even Avid Sailors Need a Life Vest
I spent so much time swimming in the lake as a child that my parents often kidded me about sprouting gills. It’s true that nothing made me happier than an afternoon of playing in the waves – except maybe a trip in my father’s sailboat. It wasn’t until the age of 10 or so that I learned to sail a Sunfish by myself. I learned to detect which winds and other weather conditions made for safe sailing, and which could prove dangerous.
Even though he had sailed all his life, my father would never climb aboard his Hobie cat without a Sea Eagle life vest strapped tightly across his chest. He always said that even the best sailors capsize from time to time and that cold water can induce cramping. Just being able to float effortlessly in the water for a while can truly mean the difference between life and death.