BOATERS BLOG
A Guide to Life Jackets, Vest Types, & State Laws: What Every Boater Needs to Know to Stay Safe
By NBOA •December 23, 2025
Whether you’re heading out for a peaceful cruise, a day of fishing with friends, or a full water skiing adventure with the family, one piece of gear should never be an afterthought: a life jacket. It might not be the most exciting thing on board, but it’s easily one of the most important. Life jackets save lives every year, and wearing the right one at the right time can make all the difference when the unexpected happens.
Beyond safety, life jacket rules can also get a little confusing. Requirements vary by state, age, vessel type, and activity, making it easy to overlook something important. The experts at NBOA are sharing the ultimate guide to life jackets that breaks it all down. From the different types of life jackets to the laws you need to know before you hit the water, whether you’re boating with kids, towing a wakeboarder, or feeling the wind in your hair on a personal watercraft, a little knowledge goes a long way toward keeping everyone safe and stress-free.
Why Life Jackets are Important
Life jackets (also called wearable life preservers) are undoubtedly one of the most crucial pieces of safety equipment you should always have aboard any watercraft, from motorboats to personal watercraft and even kayaks and canoes. As the name suggests, life jackets can save lives, whether a passenger falls into the water unexpectedly, isn’t a strong swimmer, or in the event of an accident or inclement weather. Life jackets fall into the category of PFDs, or Personal Flotation Devices. However, there are various types of life jackets, and knowing which ones are best suited for you and your passengers is an essential part of owning and operating any boat or vessel on the water.
Different Types of Life Jackets
Type I: Offshore Life Jacket
A type I or off-shore life jaket is recommended for those boating a greater distance from shore. These life jackets are great options for rough, open, or remote water as they can turn the wearer face-up, even if they fall unconscious. A Type I or offshore life jacket is the most buoyant PFD at 22lbs.
Type II: Near-Shore Bouyant Vest
A type II or near-shore life jacket is ideal for calm waters or when you’re not venturing too far from shore. These vests are lightweight and work best when you can rely on a prompt rescue. A type II or near-shore vest is less buoyant than a type I at 15.5lbs.
Type III: Flotation Aid
A Type III or flotation aid is common for recreational activities and includes vests like float coats, fishing vests, and water sport vests. They provide better flexibility and a wider range of motion; however, it will not turn the wearer face-up. A type III or flotation aid provides the same buoyancy as a type II, 15.5lbs.
Type IV: Throwable Device
A type IV or throwable device isn’t actually a life jacket at all. Instead, these are cushions, rings, or horseshoe buoys that are often seen at pools, on commercial ships, or on piers. The purpose of these throwable devices is for the person in the water to hold themselves afloat while the device is pulled to the watercraft, dock, or shore via attached rope. A Type IV or throwable device can have between 16.5-18 lbs of buoyancy.
Type V: Special Use Device
A Type V or special use device is quite a relatively large category of life jackets. These can range from inflatable vests used for fishing or kayaking to hybrids or something created for a specific purpose, such as whitewater rafting or racing. Therefore, buoyancy can vary from vest to vest, depending on the materials and design.
State Laws Regarding Life Jackets
No matter what state you’re boating in, it’s always required by the U.S. Coast Guard that the vessel be equipped with properly fitted life jackets for every passenger aboard. While each state creates its own laws regarding life jackets and the minimum age for wearing one, it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to decide if and when a child should be equipped, if it isn’t already required by state law. Learn the specific life jacket laws in each state below.
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 8 yrs old or younger and aboard any vessel that is moving, anchored, or docked
- You are within 800 ft of a hydroelectric dam and/or navigation lock and dam
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger and the boat is in motion
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger and aboard any vessel in motion
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger and aboard any vessel that is moving, anchored, or docked
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger and aboard any vessel that is less than 26 ft long
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
Colorado
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
Connecticut
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 6 yrs old or younger and aboard any vessel that is 26 ft or less
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
Georgia
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 10 yrs old and aboard an open vessel
- You are in a designated hazardous area
Hawaii
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger and on aboard any vessel that is moving, anchored, or docked
Idaho
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 14 yrs old or younger on a vessel 19 ft or smaller that is in motion
Illinois
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
Indiana
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
Iowa
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel
Kentucky
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 10 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
- You are aboard a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard on the Saco River between the Hiram Dam and the Atlantic Ocean and it is between January 1st and June 1st
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 7 yrs old or younger abord a vessel 21 ft or smaller that is in motion
Massachusetts
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
- You are aboard a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard between September 1st and May 31st
Michigan
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 6 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
Minnisota
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 10 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
Mississippi
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 7 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
Montana
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
Nesbraska
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
Nevada
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel
New Hampshire
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
New Jersey
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
New Mexico
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft, kayak, canoe, etc.
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard a 65 ft (or smaller) vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
- You are on a vessel 21 ft or smaller between November 1st and May 1st
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
North Dakota
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 10 yrs old or younger aboard a 27 ft (or smaller) vessel
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 10 yrs old or younger aboard an 18 ft (or smaller) vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
Oklahoma
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard an 26 ft (or smaller) vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
Oregon
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- This child is being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard an 20 ft (or smaller) vessel, including kayaks, canoes, etc.
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
Rhode Island
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard an 65 ft (or smaller) vessel, including kayaks, canoes, etc.
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard a Class A motorboat
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
South Dakota
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 7 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
Utah
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 13 yrs old or younger aboard an 19 ft (or smaller) vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are on a river, aside from designated flatware sections
Vermont
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are 16 yrs old or younger on a sailboat
Virginia
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
Washington
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard an 19 ft (or smaller) vessel
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
West Virginia
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are aboard a personal watercraft
Wyoming
You must wear a life jacket if …
- You are 12 yrs old or younger aboard any vessel in motion
- You are being towed on skis, wakeboard, surfboard, tube, disc, spinner, or other towable toy
Life jackets are a simple, powerful way to protect the people you care about most. With so many styles designed for comfort, movement, and specific activities, there’s truly a life jacket for every kind of boater. Pairing the right PFD with an understanding of your state’s laws helps ensure that your time on the water stays fun, safe, and worry-free.
Before your next outing, take a few minutes to check that everyone on board has a properly fitted, Coast Guard–approved life jacket and knows when to wear it. Rules may vary from state to state, but the goal remains the same: to come home safely after a great day on the water. When in doubt, wear the life jacket. It’s a small step that can make a life-saving difference.
For more ways to protect yourself, your passengers, and your investment on and off the water, connect with the professionals and NBOA.