Life Jacket Condition, Paper License Copy & Operation Dry Water
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s July 2023 eNewsletter.
How’s your life jacket? Still able to do its job?
By DNR Conservation Warden Chris Spaight
If you were on the water during the spring, you know boating season is on for motorboat operators and the silent sport enthusiasts. Chances are boat traffic of all types likely will increase even more now that summer has arrived.
If your vessel’s motor is of the outboard engine variety or your own paddling power, there is no more important piece of on-water equipment than the lifejacket.
If you’ve been on the water, you likely have had that life jacket on board. However, the best way is to wear it every time you are on the water. Because the life jacket gets use and can suffer wear just like any other item, it is worth the time to check its condition.
Critical Review Required
First consideration: Have you or anyone among your usual passengers gained or lost significant weight? Body size affects the snug easy-to-move fit you want to feel when wearing your jacket every time you are on or in the water.
After that consideration, take a hard look at them. Are they torn? Do they show signs of mold or mildew? Do they appear faded or look questionable in their reliability to save your life in an emergency?
If they are inflatable life jackets, test them to see if they can hold air for 16 to 24 hours. If it has a cartridge, check to see if it still shows a sign that it retains the power to inflate.
If you have any questions about their reliability, retire the jackets and get new ones for the new season. That’s one peace-of-mind purchase you’ll be glad you made.
Passengers And Sports
Purchase life jackets that fit your lifestyle. Do you anticipate having pets or children on board during the season? You’ll need to add life jackets sized for children. Are grandchildren on the way? Remember to get the right size for each person on the boat.
While not required by law, there are life jackets for pets, too.
Also, if your water enjoyment includes other water sports such as canoeing or kayaking, other life jackets are designed for those water activities. Sound confusing? The U.S. Coast Guard has a downloadable brochure to help you.
Smart To Be Safe and It’s The Law
Not only is staying safe part of the fun on the water, but it’s also the law. Make it a habit to wear your jacket whenever you are on or in the water.
- All vessels (including canoes, kayaks and paddleboards) must have at least one USCG (U.S. Coast Guard)-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board.
- All vessels 16 feet or more in length must have one USCG-approved throwable personal flotation device onboard that is immediately accessible.
- Every person on board a personal watercraft must wear a USCG-approved life jacket.
- Sailboards and windsurfers are exempt from the life jacket requirement but are highly encouraged to wear one.
- Federal law requires children under 13 to wear a USCG-approved life jacket while underway in an open vessel on federally controlled waters.
Here’s the harsh reality: If you’re not wearing your life jacket when you enter the water, there’s a good chance you will never get it on in time for it to save you – or someone else.
Have fun, stay safe, and come back to shore with great stories to share.
Not Just a Piece of Paper, It’s The Law
By DNR Conservation Warden Jack Luessman
Wisconsin has a rich history of being home to trophy fish. Our rivers, inland waters and the Great Lakes offer the opportunity to catch the fish of a lifetime.
While a lot of planning goes into preparing your gear for a trip to the Great Lakes or Wisconsin Boundary Waters, one of the most important, and often overlooked, pieces of equipment is a paper copy of your Wisconsin fishing license.
A paper copy of a resident or non-resident Wisconsin fishing license is required by law to be carried while fishing Wisconsin boundary waters and the Great Lakes. This law serves the purpose to allow multiple agencies to check your fishing license.
- Wisconsin boundary waters include Brule, Mississippi, Menominee, Montreal, St. Croix and St. Louis rivers, as well as Basin, Big, Big Bateau, Crampton, Crystal, Cyrus, Lac Vieux Desert, Little Presque Isle, Mamie, Mill, Norwood, Pepin, Plum, Roach, Smoky, St. Croix, State Line, Tenderfoot and West Bay lakes.
- The Great Lakes include Lake Michigan and Lake Superior and their bays and harbors as well as the Bay of Green Bay, the Fox River upstream to the De Pere dam and Sturgeon Bay.
In areas of poor cell phone reception, DNR conservation wardens do not have another option to verify your fishing license and other state and federal agencies do not have access to see if you have a fishing license other than with a paper copy. So, the next time you’re gearing up for an outing to the Great Lakes or a Wisconsin boundary water, double check that you have your paper fishing license.
Sober Operation: Smart & Safe Fun for All
By Lt. Warden Darren Kuhn, DNR Boating Law Administrator
By the time the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association members read this, you have either seen an increased presence of DNR wardens and other law enforcement agencies on the water for July 4th weekend – or you will.
July 1 – 3 is the annual national campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of alcohol and other drug use while operating a boat. While this is the designated weekend for this public education campaign, sober operation is a year-round focus of wardens, as our mission is to maintain safety for all on the waters.
Nearly 80% of fatal boating incidents involve drowning. Drowning can happen to even the most experienced swimmers. Most people who drown in boating accidents know how to swim but become incapacitated in the water, such as being injured, unconscious, exhausted or weighed down by clothing.
Alcohol use is a leading factor in recreational boating fatalities, and nearly 80% of fatal boating incidents involve drowning. If alcohol is involved in your day of boating, have a designated operator. Operating a boat is no different than driving an automobile.
So far this year, two people have died from boating incidents in Wisconsin, and another 20 died in 2022. Operator inexperience, inattention, recklessness and speeding are the four leading causes of tragic watercraft crashes. Boating incident reports to date for 2023 and previous years are available online here.
The easiest and most important things for people to remember are to boat sober and wear their life jackets. Statistics show boaters who wear life jackets and take boater safety courses are most likely to stay safe on Wisconsin waters.
Follow these basic safety tips below and enjoy Wisconsin’s great lakes and rivers with family and friends.
- Enjoy the waters sober and know your limits. Alcohol blurs a person’s judgment, reaction time and abilities.
- River shorelines and sandbars pose unseen dangers. Higher, fast-moving water can tax an individual’s boating, paddling and swimming skills.
- Keep an eye on the weather and let someone know where you are going.