Kent - This should answer some of your questions. Can't help you on which
ones are approved by the commission. My interpretation is that you should
have one but are not required to wear one. JKW.
RCW 79A.60.160 Personal flotation devices required -- Penalty.
(1) No person may operate or permit the operation of a vessel on the waters
of the state without a personal flotation device on board for each person on
the vessel. Each personal flotation device shall be in serviceable
condition, of an appropriate size, and readily accessible.
RCW 79A.60.010 Definitions.
(4) "Commission" means the state parks and recreation commission.
(16) "Personal flotation device" means a buoyancy device, life preserver,
buoyant vest, ring buoy, or buoy cushion that is designed to float a person
in the water and that is approved by the commission.
(23) "Vessel" includes every description of watercraft on the water, other
than a seaplane, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation
on the water. However, it does not include inner tubes, air mattresses,
sailboards, and small rafts or flotation devices or toys customarily used by
swimmers.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kent Lufkin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2001 9:28 AM
Subject: Personal floatation devices
> A fly fishing partner and former list subscriber just got his first
> pontoon boat and has asked some relevant questions about PFDs which
> apparently WDFW requires. Not having a ready answer to all his
> questions, I thought I'd pass them along to the group to gather and
> review our collective wisdom.
>
> Am I correct in recalling from a thread about a year or so ago that
> PFDs are *NOT* required for those who fish from float tubes but *ARE*
> required for those using pontoon boats, rafts, drift boats, etc.?
>
> If PFDs are required for pontoon boats, must they be worn at all
> times (like the SOSpenders I have) or can they be in the form of the
> floating seat cushions more commonly seen on rigid-hulled boats?
>
> Put another way: does one fishing from a pontoon boat have to wear a
> PDF at all times? If so, why does this requirement not seem to apply
> to other types of boats as well?
>
> Finally (and someone please jump in to correct me if I've
> misunderstood this), what does the USCG Type III designation for some
> PDF's mean and why is this the 'approved' type of PDF that WDFW
> accepts, or are other designations also acceptable?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Kent Lufkin
>
