Life Jacket Question for you Smart People: I apologize ahead of time for the long post. I appreciate your input. A couple of weeks ago my son-in-law was stopped by "harbor police" on a...

PapaJ Loc: South of Greenville, TX. Near Lake Tawakoni

I apologize ahead of time for the long post. I appreciate your input.

A couple of weeks ago my son-in-law was stopped by "harbor police" on a local lake here in Texas. NOT the Game Warden. When asked to present his life jacket he showed them his Ronix neoprene vest. It's a very nice vest...I have one just like it.

Now...the rub...

It says "USGA" and has U.S. Coast Guard Approval Number 160.064/8020/0. It does not spell out the words "US Coast Guard Approved" anywhere on it. The harbor police told them it was not a legal vest. Luckily, he had some others on board and didn't get a ticket.

I think the harbor police was full of baloney. I googled the approval number and found the following on the USCG page;

Here's the picture of the inside of the jacket;

I think all of this indicates it IS in fact USCG Approved...but I don't want to bet a citation on it. What do you say?

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

PapaJ wrote:

I apologize ahead of time for the long post. I ap... (show quote)

I believe you're correct PapaJ, it meets the requirements for a Type lll device. Which is the same class as most vest type or "fishing"type PFDs. The water cop was wrong.

PapaJ Loc: South of Greenville, TX. Near Lake Tawakoni

That's what I thought. Again, it wasn't a TP&W Game Warden.

I've emailed the State Game Warden Boater Safety office asking the same but it may be awhile before I get an answer.

jps

audigger53 Loc: Severn, MD

PapaJ: I think te "habor Police was just trying to hand out Tickets and also mau have finished 6 grade. Just my opinion. Like when out with my friend saw a CG boat coming towards us so I told him to let me drive. He has a much better God given tan than I do. They got close enough to see this "Old White Guy" driving and waving hello at them and they turned off and left. No inspection or anything else. My friend thanked me.

D Tong Loc: San Francisco,Ca

I had a issue many years ago some of the young wardens think they know everything when they actually can’t tell the difference between a gopher hole and there Butt they tried to impound my Truck and ticket me for having Turkey 🦃 feathers 🪶 in my truck he said they were Hawk feathers 🪶 I told him he needed to change his career because he was a idiot and I actually proved him wrong I have a friend who is a game warden and called him and showed him the feathers he let the ding dong know how wrong he was 🙏👍 just saying

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

PapaJ wrote:

I apologize ahead of time for the long post. I ap... (show quote)

I think that because it states that its intended to be used as a flotation device for water skiing,wakeboard and PWC that it doesn’t qualify as a USCG Approved PFD…hate to say, but I think your harbor patrol is correct 🤷‍♂️…it doesn’t seem right, CG Approved should be CG Approved, but it’s not…🐟on

Chuck56 Loc: Texas

There are questionable Individuals out there with questionable IQ numbers, usually in our younger generations. Sounds to me you encountered some.....My 2cents...

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

DozerDave wrote:

I think that because it states that its intended to be used as a flotation device for water skiing,wakeboard and PWC that it doesn’t qualify as a USCG Approved PFD…hate to say, but I think your harbor patrol is correct 🤷‍♂️…it doesn’t seem right, CG Approved should be CG Approved, but it’s not…🐟on

I also noticed it says “Flotation Aid” not flotation device. I think in order to qualify as a USCGA PFD it has to be able to keep your head above water in the case that your knocked out basically like the old around the neck orange type 🤷‍♂️…🐟on

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

DozerDave wrote:

I think that because it states that its intended to be used as a flotation device for water skiing,wakeboard and PWC that it doesn’t qualify as a USCG Approved PFD…hate to say, but I think your harbor patrol is correct 🤷‍♂️…it doesn’t seem right, CG Approved should be CG Approved, but it’s not…🐟on

I disagree Dave, read line 7 and 8. And there is only one definition for each "Type " all type lll s are equall . For instance all inflatables are Type V, but depending on how much CO² they hold, they are considered Type lll for the smaller ones, and Type ll for the larger ones.

Catfish hunter Loc: Riggins idaho (Paradise)

PapaJ wrote:

I apologize ahead of time for the long post. I ap... (show quote)

“USCGA” did he not understand what that means?

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Here's the link to USCG Ratings
https://www.boatus.org/life-jackets/types/

DozerDave Loc: Port Orchard Wa.

Fredfish wrote:

I disagree Dave, read line 7 and 8. And there is only one definition for each "Type " all type lll s are equall . For instance all inflatables are Type V, but depending on how much CO² they hold, they are considered Type lll for the smaller ones, and Type ll for the larger ones.

…🐟on

Big A Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Catfish hunter wrote:

“USCGA” did he not understand what that means?

Probably not ! Many agencies are
hard-pressed for decent help nowadays, and settle for the best
of what they can find - that said,
most of that 'help' is sub-par !

Sixth grade ? If he's lucky !
Doesn't seem like he had
the IQ of a 'pet rock' ! That
agency must have been really
desperate if they gave this
moron any power or authority
of any kind !

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

DozerDave wrote:

I think that because it states that its intended to be used as a flotation device for water skiing,wakeboard and PWC that it doesn’t qualify as a USCG Approved PFD…hate to say, but I think your harbor patrol is correct 🤷‍♂️…it doesn’t seem right, CG Approved should be CG Approved, but it’s not…🐟on

Dozer Dave, It says type111. That is the type for recreational boating. The police officer was wrong. That is not uncommon these days. I can not imagine anyone with any intelligence pinning on a badge these days. The state of affairs being what it is. I believe most good intelligent officers are just waiting out their time for retirement as they have to much invested to quit.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

DozerDave wrote:

I also noticed it says “Flotation Aid” not flotation device. I think in order to qualify as a USCGA PFD it has to be able to keep your head above water in the case that your knocked out basically like the old around the neck orange type 🤷‍♂️…🐟on

One again, a type three is approved for recreational boating. A type one is only required for commercial (including charter) boats.