Mandatory Life Jacket Law Goes Federal

[UserRemoved1]

I'm not opposed to this or wearing pfds...both can save your life. I see too many stupid people on the water that don't have a clue. S hit happens so fast that you don't have time to go put a pfd on. It can mean the difference of 5-10 minutes in 50 degree water...saving your life.

I do think Spence hit it spot on though, I'll bet there are startling numbers of what size boats are most prone to accidents or people falling over...and I'm betting that it's not typically happening on 50' cruisers either.

The only issue I have is if you have a bow babe on board with factory floatation....you can't cover natural floatation with factory made

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

If they really want to curb deaths on the water, they should require people take a class before driving a boat. Something that covers safety, the laws, operating a boat, managing passengers, etc. No need for a license, but require a certificate of completion be carried by anyone at the helm.

There are far too many jackwads that have no clue what they are doing when on the water. I'd bet this would save far more lives than the .00001% saved by requiring life vests on boats under 18'.

[JohnnyD]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I do think Spence hit it spot on though, I'll bet there are startling numbers of what size boats are most prone to accidents or people falling over...and I'm betting that it's not typically happening on 50' cruisers either.

736/82000000
I made a quick pie chart to visualize the impact:

Keep in mind that that single line is still not small enough to show how minute the effected population actual is.

I can sympathize with unnecessary death but looking at the chart... are you kidding me? Why is this even being discussed? Take into consideration that out of that sliver of deaths, only one tenth are 'estimated' to be saved. I think the government's time and money could save more than 70-ish lives out of 82,000,000 by requiring a class to be completed before operating a boat.

Hell, if they outlawed tobacco or alcohol, they'd save 1000 times that over a couple years.

[Raven]

smaller boats are tippy canoe
and your weight can flip em

at least it says
when your under way

[MakoMike]

Originally Posted by Raven

smaller boats are tippy canoe
and your weight can flip em

at least it says
when your under way

Keep in mind that the C.G. definition of "underway" is if a boat is floating and not anchored or tied to a dock, it is "underway."

[likwid]

Originally Posted by #^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&

I'm not opposed to this or wearing pfds...both can save your life. I see too many stupid people on the water that don't have a clue. S hit happens so fast that you don't have time to go put a pfd on. It can mean the difference of 5-10 minutes in 50 degree water...saving your life.

I do think Spence hit it spot on though, I'll bet there are startling numbers of what size boats are most prone to accidents or people falling over...and I'm betting that it's not typically happening on 50' cruisers either.

The only issue I have is if you have a bow babe on board with factory floatation....you can't cover natural floatation with factory made

Booger is right on the first and last points.

These are horrible and stop you from doing nothing! Nothing I say!

[UserRemoved]

lookit those pfd's