USCG Life Preserver Requirements

The United States Coast Guard requires that on every boat in U.S. waters, there must be a type I, II, III or V life preserver for every person on board. At the state level, regulations are in place that require children under certain ages to wear a life preserver at all times, though the Coast Guard considers passengers under 13 to be children. Additionally, the Coast Guard requires water skiers and personal watercraft riders to wear life preservers.

  1. Buoyancy

    • The different types of life preservers have varying levels of buoyancy. Adult type II and III life preservers provide 15.5 lbs. of buoyancy, while the type I and V varieties are stronger, at up to 22 lbs. of buoyancy. Youth life preservers are slightly less buoyant with ratings of 11 lbs. for types II and III and 11 to 15.5 lbs. for type V preservers. Small children must only wear Type II jackets, which provide 7 lbs. of buoyancy. Type IV throwables, required on all vessels over 16 feet in length, should be rated at 20 lbs. for cushion-types and between 16 and 32 lbs. for rings depending on size.

      Inflatable life jackets provide the most buoyancy, with buoyancies of 34 lbs., 22.5 lbs. and up to 34 lbs. for types I/II, III, and V, respectively. Hybrid life jackets, which are a foam jacket with an inflatable compartment, must give 22 lbs. of buoyancy for adult type II, III and V; 15 lbs. for youth type II, III and V; and 12 lbs. for children's Type II.

    Storage

    • Life preservers must be properly stored on board if they are not being worn. This includes taking them out of the plastic wrapping they are sold in and making sure nothing is stored on top of them. Never place life preservers in a locked compartment or somewhere inaccessible to any passengers. The Coast Guard does not specify a specific time, but they claim that "you must be able to put them on in a reasonable amount of time in an emergency (vessel sinking, on fire, etc.)." All life preservers should be checked once annually and replaced if there is significant fading or fatigue.

    Water Sports

    • Water skiers and personal watercraft riders must wear life vests at all times. This style of life preserver allows the maximum freedom of movement along with protection against high-speed impact. They may not keep the wearer's face turned up out of the water in case of lost consciousness, unlike the inflatable types.