Fish-Hawk.Net

Hey guys and gals.
New member and new boater.
Just bought a new boat and the salesman wanted to sell me a bunch of extra life jackets for passengers.
I didn't want to shell out more than I have to so I wanted to take a little pole.
How many extra life jackets should I have for my new boat.
How many extra's do you guys have in case your mom, dad, grandmother or friends want to go for a ride.

Hey BB, Welcome to Fish-hawk. We usually keep 2 extra life jackets in our boat. And we have around 5 extras on shore in the shed for who ever needs one.

Welcome to the board. Congrats on the new boat . I always keep 1 extra in the boat ontop of the ones my passangers have on at all times.
I have many 4 lifejackets (including mine) just incase I take an extra person. I have a bass boat so 3 people in in is pushing it.
Cheers
JP

I keep three on board at all times, plus I have a couple spares. Its good to get a couple sizes, really important to get at least one childs size. You never know when you'll take a kid for a quick ride round the lake.

Welcome & best of luck with your new boat. Good question, too. We currently have 1 extra life vest in our boat. But perhaps another 1 would be more adviseable (2 total). That was great advice about getting an extra child sized one.....they aren't expensive at a chain store. But are invaluable.

W.

Welcome to the board and Congrats on your new boat I normly have one Spare in the boat at all times, and I have about three at home in case, plus three different sizes for kids

As long as you have ONE per PERSON and they FIT.

Extras on shore should extra people come along - no problem.

Right now I have six on board the boat.

congrats on the new boat purchase...

but if you bought NEW, the least the marina could do was thrown in some FREE life jackets...

Hey Baitboy congrats on the new ride. I usually keep 4 adult sizes and 2 kids life jackets. I also have some spares in the shed just on case more show up.

Gordo

Congrats on the new ride.


As superdad said you need one for every person on board. Keeping a small (childs size) is a great idea. I need to do that and get some smaller sizes.

So what did you get? Post pictures. We like seeing everyone's boat so that we might spot you on the water.

According to the lifesaving soceity you should always keep ONE extra life jacket in case of emergency. It can be used as a throwing aid or other uses, not only to be worn.

Thanks for the responses.
Sounds like I should have at least 2 extra life jackets for passengers.

I didn't think it was my responsibility to buy extra life jackets. I didn't want to incur the extra costy of 2 or 3 life jackets.

If I take someone out on the boat and they don't have a life jacket how much is the fine and who gets it.
Me the boat owner or the passenger without the life jacket.

As a responsible boat owner, its your job to make sure you have the proper # of life jackets on the boat.

if your willing to spend the money on a new boat, spend the money on some life jackets....and a safety kit, and some paddles, and a compass, and ... be prepared to spend some money as a boat owner. owning a boat is a luxury, and just like any luxury, you will have to put some money into it.

because you bought new, the initial money invested should last you a long time. I bought used, which saved me a bunch of money off the bat, but have since upgraded the depth sonar, bilge pumps, trailer winch, trailer lights etc.

BaitBoy wrote:Thanks for the responses.
Sounds like I should have at least 2 extra life jackets for passengers.

I didn't think it was my responsibility to buy extra life jackets. I didn't want to incur the extra costy of 2 or 3 life jackets.

If I take someone out on the boat and they don't have a life jacket how much is the fine and who gets it.
Me the boat owner or the passenger without the life jacket.

While it is not your responsibility to ensure you supply life jackets for your passengers, it is your responsibility (when on the water) to ensure there is at least one jacket for every passenger. Not having spares could severly limit who, and how many folks you can take fishing.

My advice (as I have come across several for next to nothing), hit garage sales. I picked up 4 for $10. They are not the fanciest, but they float, they meet regs, and if a passenger wants a nicer one ... then it is up to them to supply it.

BTW, tell us about your new rig. Got any pictures?

Congrats

M.T. Livewell

We have a fish'n funrider pontoon boat that seats 10 ... so we have 10 adult lifejackets, plus a couple of kid sized jackets. Most non-boat owners don't have their own, so we just figure it as part of the cost of entertaining. We keep about 8 on the boat so we never have to think about it except when the boat's full. If space is a factor for you, there are plastic zip-up packages of 4 keyhole jackets, that take up very little space and they aren't that expensive. Not a plug, but I found them at G&G Lalonde.