BigBendFishing.Net

BlindHog wrote:I think under 16 are required to wear PFD while craft is under power.

It was a fun hunt!! Thanks for the nice comments.

Blind Hog: Not true. Here’s the Florida requirement:

While a number of states require life jackets (PFDs) for those children less than 16 years of age, Florida is not one of them. Currently in Florida, children only under the age of 6 years old are required to wear a PFD on vessels less than 26 feet underway in Florida waters.

http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/handbook/pfds.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For 2008 however, there is a Legislative Proposal to change that to those children under the age of 13 to wear one:

http://myfwc.com/commission/2007/Sept07 ... em16A1.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


I bet however that a lot of offshore boaters with children aboard are not aware of this requirement though:

Vessels operating on waters outside the geographical boundaries of Florida (3 miles or the edge of the Gulf Stream, whichever is greater, off the Atlantic coast or 9 miles off the Gulf of Mexico Coast) are subject to the new federal PFD regulation for children. On these waters each child under 13 years of age on a recreational vessel that is underway must wear an appropriate USCG–approved PFD unless the child is below decks or in an enclosed cabin.
Source: http://www.boat-ed.com/fl/handbook/pfds.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I appreciate your concern though.

Brian