Actually the CG says "under 13". I could not find anything saying "at all times" - it does not make sense that a child would be required to wear a life jacket when below decks.
The CG rules do state that State Rules apply over CG rules so the child life jacket rules vary from state to state but 12 and under would be a good bet to be safe while on deck anywhere. The CG does describe three different models for different weight children. >From Minnesota DNR state web site: Child Life Jacket Wear Law Summary life vest on a child A legal measure that went into effect in 2005, requires children under age ten to wear a life jacket while boating in Minnesota. Summary Requires life jacket to be worn by children less than 10 years of age when aboard watercraft in Minnesota when the craft is under way (not tied up at a dock or permanent mooring). Selecting a life vest for your child Wear your life jacket, get a treat Exemptions from wearing 1. When in an enclosed cabin or below the top deck on a watercraft. 2. When on an anchored boat that is a platform for swimming or diving. 3. When aboard a charter (passenger) craft with a licensed captain. Watch the cool treat promotion Be Cool / Stay Cool - Wear your life jacket Image of a conservation officer handing a child a certificate for cool treat at Dairy Queen for wearing their life jacket while boating. Interaction with existing federal regulations Interaction with existing federal regulation requiring children less than 13 to wear life jackets: "Federal regulation automatically adopts state law as the standard under Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 33 175.25" Norm S/V Bandersnatch _______________________________________________ Liveaboard mailing list [email protected] To adjust your membership settings over the web http://liveaboardonline.com/mailman/listinfo/liveaboard To subscribe send an email to [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] The archives are at http://www.liveaboardonline.com/pipermail/liveaboard/ To search the archives http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] The Mailman Users Guide can be found here http://www.gnu.org/software/mailman/mailman-member/index.html
