Last year, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone signed into law a mandatory requirement for all boaters to take safety courses. Boaters have until the start of the 2014 boating season to take the course, which will be available through several organizations, including the U.S. Coast Guard.
One important aspect of boater safety is the wearing of an approved life vest.
According to the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation all children under 12-years-old have to wear an appropriately sized life jacket unless they are in a fully enclosed cabin. Also, anyone, regardless of age, who is operating or riding a personal watercraft like a Jet Ski or Wave Runner must wear a life vest or if you are being towed behind a boat, e.g. water skiers and tubers. The law also required anyone in a boat smaller than 21-feet between Nov. 1 and May 1 to wear a life jacket.
As boating season kicks off, Patch wants to know how you feel about the issue of wearing life jackets for people of any age. Many people think of the traditional design of life jackets that were uncomfortable, orange vests that limited movement and often made the wearer hot out in the sun on the water.
Nowadays, life vest come in a variety of styles, some of them remaining lightweight and only inflating if the person is submerged in water.
We asked readers on Facebook what they thought and it sparked a discussion. Here is what people were saying:
Matt Goodwin: As a kid I grew up on boats and was required to wear a PFD till I was able to swim in the ocean without assistance. My son is 5 and he always wears a life jacket on our sailboat. The law already requires the boat owner to carry PFD's for each person on the boat I personally do not feel adults should be have to by law wear them. Even though wearing a seatbelt is a law there should only be an age requirement for children. People should know their own personal capabilities and make an educated decision on their own.
Vincent Alessi: I agree with Matt on the age requirement for children. But I also feel that there is no wrong answer here. Its one of those things where if there was a situation where the boat goes under or the operator is hurt and can not swim to safety, the life jacket keeps him above water. Its not looking to hurt the boaters in anyway, just beefing up safety standards, which is beneficial to all right?
Stephen Tutino: Enough laws please. Jeeeesh!
Matt Goodwin: I totally agree with what your saying and this needs to be further discussed in boating safety courses which I feel ALL boaters should be required to take. I'll be bold and say more then half the boaters I see on the water have no clue how to properly operate their boat. When a person is operating a boat they do have a responsibility to their passengers and everyone else on the water. If the operator is practice safe responsible boating that by itself will be the most beneficial.
Brad Baisley: Kids yeah, adults, no. I'm all for motorcycle helmet laws, and seatbelts. However, on a calm day on the bay, there is so much space between boats that a PFD would seem to be a bit excessive and unnecessary.
Brian Fenley: The cold weather law for pfd is good but people should use best judgment which I know is very tough since people can't even do that some time. They should focus more on a DMV style education for boating. Permit / road test yada yada. Too many People who have no idea what they are doing who has the right of way or how to properly anchor. Anyone can buy a boat and operate it however pwcs is a different case. Pwcs require mandatory education regardless of age.
Tell us. Do you agree with the commenters above? How important is it to you personally to wear a life jacket? Do you think it should be a law for everyone to wear a life jacket regardless of age when on the water?
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