St Kilda Boat Sales - PFD Reminder - "Lifejackets people"
21 October 2010
PFD Reminder - "Lifejackets people"
- Victorian Regulations -
Over the years, Club Marine has investigated hundreds of incidents in which people have found themselves accidentally in the water, either because their boat has sunk or because they have fallen overboard. Most have ended well, but far too many have not. Once you're in the water, your chances of injury or worse increase dramatically. But equally, if you are wearing a PFD or life jacket, your chances of surviving are hugely improved — in fact, if you're in the water wearing a PFD, your chances of living to tell the tale are doubled.
"We would certainly strongly recommend that skippers educate their passengers about PFD usage and ensure their boats are equipped with suitable PFDs," said Club Marine's National Claims Manager, Phil Johnson. "The plain fact of the matter is that they save lives, pure and simple. If you find yourself accidentally in the water, whether or not you're wearing a PFD is the single biggest factor in determining your chances of survival."
In accordance with Victorian Marine Regulations 2009, you may be required to wear a specified Personal Flotation Device (PFD) when in an open area of a recreational vessel when the vessel is underway.
PFDs must be worn by all occupants of the following vessels, when the vessel is underway and an occupant is in an open area:
* Powerboats up to and including 4.8m in length
* Off-the-beach sailing yachts
* Personal watercraft (PWC)
* Canoes, kayaks and rowing boats
* Pedal boats and fun boats
* Kiteboards and sailboards
* Recreational tenders
In addition, at times of heightened risk, PFDs must be worn by all occupants of yachts (including monohull, trailerable and multihull yachts) and powerboats greater than 4.8m and less than 12m, when the vessel is underway and an occupant is in an open area.
PFDs on Children
Children under the age of 10 must wear a specified PFD at all times on any vessel when it is underway and they are in an open area of the vessel.
Specified PFDs
- Coastal Waters -
On coastal waters, a Level 100 (Type 1) PFD must be worn by all occupants aboard powerboats less than 12m in length, including recreational tenders and yachts.
Operators of kiteboards and sailboards on coastal waters must wear either a Level 100 or Level 50 (Type 1 or Type 2) PFD.
When operating off-the-beach sailing yachts, more than 2 nautical miles from the coast, a Level 100 (Type 1) PFD must be worn. If operating within 2 nautical miles of the coast, a Level 50 (Type 2) PFD can be worn.
For a PWC, canoe, kayak, rowing boat, raft, pedal boat or fun boat on coastal waters, a Level 100, 50 or 50S (Type 1, 2 or 3) PFD must be worn.
- Enclosed Waters -
On enclosed waters, a Level 100 (Type 1) PFD must be worn by all occupants aboard powerboats less than 12m in length.
For yachts, recreational tenders and off-the-beach sailing yachts on enclosed waters, either a Level 100 or Level 50 (Type 1 or Type 2) PFD must be worn.
For a PWC, kiteboard, sailboard, canoe, kayak, rowing boat, raft, pedal boat or fun boat on enclosed waters, a Level 100, 50 or 50S (Type 1, 2 or 3) PFD must be worn.
- Inland Waters -
For off-the beach sailing yachts on inland waters, either a Level 100 or Level 50 (Type 1 or Type 2) life jacket must be worn.
For all other vessels on inland waters, a Level 100, 50 or 50S (Type 1, 2 or 3) PFD must be worn.
Exemptions to PFD wearing requirements
Operators of kiteboards and sailboards operating no more than 400m from shore are exempt from the PFD-wearing requirements if they are wearing a wetsuit that is at least 3mm thick.
PFD wearing requirements do not apply to persons…
* Engaged in diving, or
* In the process of donning or removing diving equipment on board a recreational vessel that is displaying a dive flag and is not moving at a speed greater than 5 knots.
Note: The Victorian Marine Regulations 2009 approve the use of the Level 150 and 275 PFDs. These jackets are considered to be the high-buoyancy equivalent of the PFD Type 1.
Victoria includes a number of international standards as Type 1 PFDs. Always check with your state's marine regulator.
Interstate residents, please check with your local maritime authoriy or click here for details.