Name:	Casey -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/19/2014 11:35:39 PM

What is the current law regarding life vests for children?  What age may they no longer be required to wear them while boating?  It's difficult for me to find the requirements.

Name:	au67 -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/20/2014 8:35:58 AM

All persons under eight years of age, on any vessel, must, at all times, wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device that must be strapped, snapped or zipped securely in place; except, no personal flotation device is required when
inside an enclosed cabin or enclosed ­sleeping space.

Name:	Casey -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. Brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/20/2014 9:55:58 AM

May I ask where you found that information?  Will you send me to your source?  My wife and I are expecting the grandkids and want to be sure to comply. I went on-line and found this:  "Alabama's life jacket regulations state that everyone under the age of 16 must wear a life jacket when on a boat. This law went into effect August of 2009 and replaced an older law that required children ages 12 and younger to wear life jackets."

Name:	au67 -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. Brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/20/2014 12:39:51 PM

My source came from the following web site:

http://www.eregulations.com/alabama/boating-safety-regulations/

Name:	Casey -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. Brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/20/2014 4:15:43 PM

And mine from here.  http://www.trails.com/list_7489_life-vest-requirements-alabama.html

Thanks for the site. Your site looks more official but I still find it confusing.  Captain Brooks....how about telling it as you understand it?

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. Brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/20/2014 4:43:36 PM

The info AU67 posted matches what I have from the boaters exam study material, but it never hurts to be safer. 

Name:	Casey -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. Brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/20/2014 4:56:01 PM

Thanks, AU and McGill. 

Name:	Oak A Choy -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/20/2014 6:01:48 PM

Here's the official Marine Police website.  You can download the boating regulations there or you can scroll to the bottom of the page for the life jacket info.  What was posted before about kids under 8 was correct.

Boating Rules

Name:	roswellric -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/20/2014 7:18:02 PM

My wife's regulations were tougher. Kids who cannot swim have to wear a life belt or jacket while romping on the dock or pier.

Name:	Ulysses E. McGill -	Reply
Subject:	Capt. brooks (or anyone else)
Date:	8/20/2014 7:39:18 PM

My kids could out swim most adults at 4 and I still made them wear jackets when ever they were in the lake, jumping from the rock, or swimming near the pier. In the boat, I was OK with the 8 year old rule.