Life Jacket/Lake laws?

[gjacko77]

Hey guys i'm looking to get a new vest this year. Question? Does the jacket you ride with have to be USCG Apporved? Can you get a ticket from the patrol for not wearing a coast gaurd approved jacket.

I know you have to have enough life jackets on board for everyone on the boat. So if i have 6 in the boat and 6 USCGA jackets on the boat and i'm ridding with a Non USCGA jacket is that allowed.

Thoughts comments an input would be appreciated. I just don't know the law for ridding behind the boat.

Thanks

[Alteczen]

Your jacket is suppossed to be USCG approved and you can get a ticket for having an outlaw vest on. However I've never had the patrol ask me about my jacket on Willy. Others may have had it happen to them but for whatever reason I dodged the bullet.

I did however get a ticket years ago in TN wearing one. So even though they don't check too much for it on Willy that doesn't mean the patrol elsewhere is the same. Just keep that in mind if you ever go to other lakes.

I ride with an outlaw jacket because it allows me to have much more movement. They don't float near as well but they are way more comfortable and flexible.

I'm sure what your level of riding is but here is my recommendation for what it's worth:
If you grab alot, do 180's, and maybe some inverts, the extra flexibility helps.
If you are still learning (and taking the hard falls) stay with a USCG vest. Not only will they float you better but their thickness helps pad your upper body from those nasty spills.

Also - some of the USCG wakeboard vests really aren't bad. The jetpilot sidentry is pretty good and Oneil makes one that is pretty decent also (called the Law I think).

[BOARDPIMP]

Wearing a USCG approved jacket is a Kentucky state law, not a Williamstown Lake requirement.

Without a doubt the local law could site you for not having a proper type jacket on, i've never heard of.. or experienced a proplem with the local law or Fish and Wildlife checking your type of jacket.

[gjacko77]

Okay thanks guys. i'm probally going to go with a USCGA baller vest.