Life Jackets can sometimes be an afterthought when planning a trip or day out on the water and many are uninformed on the different type of life jackets. With life jackets being a life saving feature, it is important to know the different types of life jackets and who should be wearing which type. This guide presented by SkiSafe is used to help inform people of the proper life jacket regulations and requirements.

1. Life Jackets 101
Basics
Rules for Accessibility
■■ Waterlogged, faded or leaking jackets
should be thrown out and replaced.
■■ Owners should test life jackets at least
once a year for buoyancy and wear.
■■ Children should always wear child-size
life jackets, never adult-size life jackets.
■■ Life jackets must be readily accessible
at all times.
■■ Jackets should not be stored in plastic
bags, in closed or locked compartments,
or underneath anything else.
■■ Throwable floatation devices — including
life jackets — must be immediately
accessible at all times.
■■ Life jackets must be properly stowed.
■■ Any boat 16 feet or longer (with the
exception of canoes or kayaks) must also
carry one Type IV throwable life jacket.
■■ All recreational boats must be equipped
with at least one wearable life jacket
(labeled Type I, II, III or V) for each
person on board.
■■ Even if regulations do not require them,
life jackets should be worn at all times
when a boat is moving.
■■ Boaters must be able to put life jackets
on in a reasonable amount of time in the
event of an emergency situation.
Inflatable
Minimum Buoyancy
Wearable Size Type Inherent Buoyancy (Foam)
Adult
I II 34 lb.
III 22.5 lb.
V 22.5 to 34 lb.
Hybrid (Foam/Inflatable)
Minimum Buoyancy
Wearable Size Type Inherent Buoyancy (Foam) Inflated Total Buoyancy
Adult
II III 10 lb. 22 lb.
V 7.5 lb. 22 lb.
Youth
II III 9 lb. 15 lb.
V 7.5 lb. 15 lb.
Child II 7 lb. 12 lb.
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Life Jacket Flotation Requirements
Foam
Minimum Buoyancy
Wearable Size Type Inherent Buoyancy (Foam)
Adult
I 22 lb.
II III 15.5 lb.
V 15.5 to 22 lb.
Youth
II III 11 lb.
V 11 to 15.5 lb.
Child and Infant II 7 lb.
Throwable: IV
Cushion 20 lb.
Ring Buoy 16.5 32 lb.