Mn Home Stager Report-Fishing? Take Home Your Life!!

Our fishing opener for Mn was Saturday , May 12th.  It is estimated that 1 million anglers were out on the water trying for the elusive but tasty northern pike and walleye.  How many of these dressed warmly for the chilly weather ,also thought to strap on a Personal Flotation Device?  Going overboard unintentionally in any weather is dangerous but with extra layers of clothing, the low water temperature, and a 50 degree air temperature will put your life in peril. 

BoatingBasicsOnline.com

Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)

PFDs are important potential life saving devices and are required onboard. Make sure when selecting a PFD that it is Coast Guard approved and is designed for a person of your size and weight.

One wearable PFD for each person aboard is required and they should be stowed where readily accessible. (Readily accessible does not include being in the plastic wrapper in which it came or stowed forward in the v-berth under 5 cases of soda.)

In addition to a wearable PFD for each person, one Type IV throwable device, which should be immediately available, is also required on each vessel 16 feet or larger.

New Federal Regulations, enforceable 1/1/2003, mandate that the 15 states without child life jacket laws require that youths under 13 wear an approved PFD whenever a recreational vessel is underway, unless below decks or in a closed cabin. States with existing regulations are not required to alter their status. Make sure you check your state regulations before getting underway with children onboard.

Even if not required, every boater should wear a PFD when in dangerous conditions. Dangerous conditions include high boat traffic, severe weather, dangerous water conditions, dangerous local hazards, distance from shore, operations at night and boating alone. Any time you feel you are in danger or simply apprehensive about a situation remember the following: when in doubt, get it out, and put it on.

Putting on a PFD while on land or in a stable boat can be a simple task. However, donning a PFD while in the water can be a very difficult task. You don't have the same leverage or balance you would normally have. Although you should have on a PFD prior to entering the water, you should practice putting on a PFD while in a pool or in shallow water to experience first hand what it would be like.