I received the following email from Jeffrey Klauder, clarifying my earlier post on next year’s life jacket change.
George:
Just a quick clarification on the new life jacket rule – it only applies to boaters from November 1 to May 1. It would not be applicable during the period each year from May 2 to October 31. I’m not sure that was clear in your blog.
The text of the relevant rule follows:
No owner or operator of a pleasure vessel less than twenty-one feet, including rowboats, canoes, and kayaks shall permit its operation, between November first and May first, unless each person on board such vessel is wearing a securely fastened United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of an appropriate size when such vessel is underway.
I apologize for my mistake. Remember the rule is to help prevent cold water deaths, so Nov. 1 to May 1 makes sense.