Life Jackets

[seastorm]

I'am going to take my 4 1/2 year old son out in the boat tomorrow for the first time we have a 6.1m boat and I was going to head down the Pin, does he have to wear a life jacket by law, he can swim and I do have a jacket for him but it will make it hard for him to hold a fishing rod?

[pubgolf]

if your in qld the law is: Under 5 meters, Under way and Under 12 year olds. You must be in a life jacket suitable to the waters you are in i.e. pfd1 pfd2 etc. seeing you are over 5 meters he doesnt need to be wearing a life jacket except when crossing bars etc. it would be strongly advisable to have the young tacker in a pfd at all times whilst underway. when fishing it would be too. they fall overboard really quick and its a pain having to pull the pick and go get a drowning kid when the fish are on the bite. Seriously though you cant be too safe with your most precious investment (not your boat, YOUR KIDS).

:thumbsup:

Rod.

P.S. have a great day Keep a good eye on him

[seatime]

if your in qld the law is: Under 5 meters, Under way and Under 12 year olds. You must be in a life jacket suitable to the waters you are in i.e. pfd1 pfd2 etc. seeing you are over 5 meters he doesnt need to be wearing a life jacket except when crossing bars etc. it would be strongly advisable to have the young tacker in a pfd at all times whilst underway. when fishing it would be too. they fall overboard really quick and its a pain having to pull the pick and go get a drowning kid when the fish are on the bite. Seriously though you cant be too safe with your most precious investment (not your boat, YOUR KIDS).

:thumbsup:

Rod.

P.S. have a great day Keep a good eye on him

G'day,

Agreed, it's advisable for the kids to wear a PFD when underway, but it's not law in a boat that size when crossing a coastal bar or anywhere else in Qld.
Compulsory wearing of PFD's apply to 4.8m open boats (dinghies, centre consoles,etc) not half cabs or the like, that offer protection.
http://www.msq.qld.gov.au/Home/Safety/Lifejackets_personal_flotation_devices

It's a good idea to get them used to wearing one though, as the rules could change soon :-/