Specifications

8 9

TheUnitedStatesCoastGuardsetsminimumstandardsfor
recreationalvesselsandassociatedsafetyequipmentTomeetthese
standards,requiredequipmentmustbeUSCoastGuard“approved”
or“certified”ThismeansthatitmeetsUSCoastGuardspecifications,
standards,andregulationsforperformance,construction,ormaterials

You may have heard reference to Type I, II, III, IV, and V “Personal
Flotation Devices” (PFDs). The term PFD is used in a strictly regulatory
sense. For greater clarity, this publication will use the term “wearable
life jacket” and “throwable device.” Understand that Type and Number
refer to the same equipment, whether called a PFD or life jacket, and
that any PFD is approved for use anywhere.
Allrecreationalvesselsmustcarry
onewearablelifejacketforeach
persononboardAnyboat16
feetandlonger(exceptcanoes
andkayaks)mustalsocarry
onethrowable(TypeIV)device
Lifejacketsbewornat
alltimeswhenthevesselisunder-
wayA life jacket can save your
life, but only if you wear it.
Alwayscheckandreadthemanufacturer’sinformationbookletand
labelprovidedwithalllifejacketsTheywillprovidevaluableinforma-
tion,includingsize,type,intendeduse,andCoastGuardapproval
information
Lifejacketsmustbe:
• USCoastGuard-approved(checkthelabel)
• Ingoodandserviceablecondition
• Appropriatesizeandtypefortheintendeduser
• Properlystowed
Someitemsthatarenotrequiredbutareagoodideatohavewithyour
lifejacketareawhistleandanemergencylight
Themarkingrequirementsforadocumentedrecreationalvesselstate
“togetherinoneplaceonthehull”Manyrecreationalvesselswillplace
thevesselnameandhailingportonthestern,andvesselnameonboth
sidesofthebow,whichisrequiredforacommercialvesselAlthough
notrequiredforarecreationalvessel,thisisanacceptableoption

Inaddition,thevesselmusthavetheofficialnumberpermanently
affixedinblock-typeArabicnumeralsofnotlessthan3inchesin
height,precededbytheletters“NO”onsomeclearlyvisibleinterior
integralstructuralpartofthevessel
Arabic numerals are the most common symbolic representation of
numbers in the world. Permanently affixed means that the numbers
must be affixed to the vessel so that alteration, removal, or replacement
would be obvious. Numbers can be painted, carved, or welded.
For more information on documented vessels, contact the U.S. Coast
Guard National Vessel Documentation Center at [phone] or
online at www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/nvdc.
NO.1234567
3"
Interior display (recreational and commercial).
Numbers must be no less than 3 inches high.