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RC_Hinojosa
05-25-2017, 09:51 AM
So this is the first weekend I'll have a decent sized crew on my new Craz....when it comes to life jackets, do y'all keep a general ratio of jackets on board? Like a mix of adult and youth jackets of varying sizes?

I have a few neoprene riding jackets but need to stock up on more jackets in case I get boarded by Texas Parks & Wildlife...

What is the "real person" capacity to be comfortable and not on everyone's toes? It can't possibly be the stated number unless it was all kids...

padge
05-25-2017, 09:54 AM
I'd say ten people would be a crowd in my opinion. I've got a 247 lsv and I don't know that I've had over ten people. But I'm not really the type to say more the merrier lol. Especially when not everyone's standards of takin. Care of something are different


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DFTR Josh
05-25-2017, 10:02 AM
do y'all keep a general ratio of jackets on board? Like a mix of adult and youth jackets of varying sizes?
I myself keep enough jackets for how many people I will have in the boat. Now I do have quite a few jackets and snag them from the garage if needed. Also it's good to find who's bringing their own so you don't have to carry more then you need.

kaneboats
05-25-2017, 10:09 AM
I try to keep 1 or 2 extra over the # of people on board. Also keep the throwable right next to my left foot under the helm on edge against the wall. Sits there perfectly.

sivs1
05-25-2017, 10:28 AM
I have two young kids that always have theirs on. I also have four of the ugly basic boat bag of jackets readily accessible. When we go out and have others with us I find out if the kids have their own and if not approximate weight so I can provide one for them. For adults I have XXL down to a small. My wife does not share her jacket so can't count her's towards another rider. We don't share wet suits, guess she feels the same way about her life jacket, LOL.

I would say at any given time I don't have less than 10 life jackets on board.

zabooda
05-25-2017, 10:44 AM
Here, kids are required to always wear a life jacket on a boat so it is mandatory on my part that parents have life jackets for their kids and to bring them along. If they don't have them, I give the parents a good lecture and expect them before they board the boat which could be as easy as picking one off the jacket board at the dock. I don't carry but a few adult life jackets as I have a ski boat with very little space for them and it is not the cruise ship Lollipop. I usually muster some up at home but I need sizes first. Life jackets on kids is a weak spot as there have been way too many drownings here over the years of kids so they have jackets available at the docks hanging on a board for those who do not have one.

kaneboats
05-25-2017, 11:01 AM
My Dad made adults and kids wear life jackets at all times on the boat. Kids even if they were on shore anywhere near the dock. Why? Under the right (wrong) circumstances an adult in the water with no life jacket will drown a kid wearing one in order to save himself. I don't enforce his rule but I am cognizant of the reasons for it.

996scott
05-25-2017, 11:04 AM
I'm pretty sure that the law is you MUST have proper fitting life jacket for EVERY person on the boat. I know I was pulled over years ago, on the lake, by the sheriff and he made everyone hold up a life jacket to make sure we all had them. They were doing a random check on the lake that day. Costco has great neoprene vests for like $39 right now. Great place to grab a few extra.

RC_Hinojosa
05-25-2017, 11:08 AM
Thanks for the input everyone! Just trying to be prepared and at the same time, acquire jackets that will get the most use.

sivs1
05-25-2017, 11:19 AM
I'm pretty sure that the law is you MUST have proper fitting life jacket for EVERY person on the boat. I know I was pulled over years ago, on the lake, by the sheriff and he made everyone hold up a life jacket to make sure we all had them. They were doing a random check on the lake that day. Costco has great neoprene vests for like $39 right now. Great place to grab a few extra.

Over the years I have bought a few from Costco each summer to use as "Boat Jackets". I no longer have any nylon jackets on the boat except for my four yellow basic CCA emergency ones
25650

Dan
05-25-2017, 12:09 PM
Gotta have em. they have them 4 packs now in vests so you do not have to put them ugly orange ones in your boat. Gander Mountain is where I found a pack of them.

Darter
05-25-2017, 01:02 PM
Just be sure to check with your state/local regs. Here in WI there must be one wearable USCG on board for every passenger, can be stowed. All children under 13 must be wearing a USCG. Plus have to have one throwable/non-wearable at the ready. Riders 13 and up are not required to wear a jacket.

So, we have 6 of the cheap ugly orange vests stowed and a throwable by the driver. We keep in the garage one of each size of neoprene for riders (we personally require all riders behind our boat to wear one, unless in a wetsuit) and bring along only the ones that are needed for the day.

kaneboats
05-25-2017, 01:39 PM
Just be sure to check with your state/local regs. Here in WI there must be one wearable USCG on board for every passenger, can be stowed. All children under 13 must be wearing a USCG. Plus have to have one throwable/non-wearable at the ready. Riders 13 and up are not required to wear a jacket.

I think you mean boat riders.

Darter
05-25-2017, 01:49 PM
Yeah, I guess said it two different ways there, didn't I... :)

WI law requires a lifejacket for each person on, in, or behind the vessel, but none need to wear unless under 13. Older towed riders can go jacket-less (bad idea though, IMHO).

kaneboats
05-25-2017, 01:51 PM
Yeah, I guess said it two different ways there, didn't I... :)

WI law requires a lifejacket for each person on, in, or behind the vessel, but none need to wear unless under 13. Older towed riders can go jacket-less (bad idea though, IMHO).

Wow. Most places if you are towed you have to wear a USCG approved one-- technically even the rider vests don't comply.

ghebert1111
05-25-2017, 06:41 PM
Dick's Sports has buy one get one free on all their life vests right now. Also some good deals on towables.

The General
05-25-2017, 07:21 PM
Round here, the comp vests are not considered life saving devices because they wont right you, or keep your head above water. Although I have been stopped many times by the DNR and they never mentioned that fact even once.

s281cheddar
06-06-2017, 09:46 AM
Yeah, I guess said it two different ways there, didn't I... :)

WI law requires a lifejacket for each person on, in, or behind the vessel, but none need to wear unless under 13. Older towed riders can go jacket-less (bad idea though, IMHO).

I looked this up. I obviously knew that here in wi you just need the kids to wear jackets at all times, and just stow enough for people on board. But I always thought a rider, tuber, surfer, whatever, needed a jacket. Apparently not? Wtf??? I always wear one but could have sworn it was a law.


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Darter
06-06-2017, 09:57 AM
I looked this up. I obviously knew that here in wi you just need the kids to wear jackets at all times, and just stow enough for people on board. But I always thought a rider, tuber, surfer, whatever, needed a jacket. Apparently not? Wtf??? I always wear one but could have sworn it was a law.


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Yeah, I've been skiing for 35 years and wouldn't dare tow someone without flotation, so it blew me away when I read that. And here we can't get a stupid mirror law passed!

5:00
06-06-2017, 10:32 AM
The good thing is that I have never had to tell anyone being towed on anything to wear a vest. I guess everyone just knows to do it. Even teenagers just put them on without a word. I can't imagine towing anyone on anything without a vest.

s281cheddar
06-07-2017, 08:14 AM
Yeah, I've been skiing for 35 years and wouldn't dare tow someone without flotation, so it blew me away when I read that. And here we can't get a stupid mirror law passed!

Mirror law???


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Shotz__21
06-07-2017, 08:38 AM
Mirror law???


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the law that says if you have one of those wide angle mirrors mounted in front and above the driver, you don't need a 3rd person (spotter) on a boat to be legally towing someone.

I don't think ND has passed this yet.
correct me if I'm wrong...

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s281cheddar
06-07-2017, 08:53 AM
I don't think we've in wi have past that law yet either. I like a third person, but you'd think if life jackets aren't required for safety who cares about the third person. Omg, this whole things crazy.


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5:00
06-07-2017, 09:21 AM
We have the mirror law in VA and take advantage of it from time-to-time. My wife and I found ourselves alone on Sunday and went out surfing. There was no one around so we did it. If there are other boats I wouldn't do it. Even with mirrors you have to have a spotter on a PWC for towing here.