16 feet or more in length
What is the personal flotation device requirement for 16 feet or more in length?
For 16 feet or more in length, personal flotation device requirement is At least one wearable PFD on board for each person, plus one throwable PFD onboard in addition to the total number of wearable PFDs required; cfr section is § 175.15, recorded from its source on 2026-08-25; source re-checked 2026-10-17.
(b) No person may use a recreational vessel 16 feet or more in length unless one throwable PFD is onboard in addition to the total number of wearable PFDs required in paragraph (a) of this section.
— ecfr.gov, retrieved 2026-08-25
- Vessel length band
- 16 feet or more in length verified
- Personal flotation device requirement
- At least one wearable PFD on board for each person, plus one throwable PFD onboard in addition to the total number of wearable PFDs required our reading
- CFR section
- § 175.15 verified
- § 175.110 per ecfr.gov
- Visual distress signal requirement
- Visual distress signals must be onboard: devices suitable for day use and devices suitable for night use, or devices suitable for both day and night use per ecfr.gov
Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.
Where each value comes from
This source states these in separate places, so each value is shown with the passage that states it.
Personal flotation device requirement
(a) No person may use a recreational vessel unless— (1) At least one wearable PFD is on board for each person; (2) Each PFD is used in accordance with any requirements on the approval label; and (3) Each PFD is used in accordance with any requirements in its owner's manual, if the approval label makes reference to such a manual.
CFR section
§ 175.15 Personal flotation devices required.
— all from ecfr.gov, retrieved 2026-08-25
What ecfr.gov says
(a) No person may use a boat 16 feet or more in length, or any boat operating as an uninspected passenger vessel subject to the requirements of 46 CFR chapter I, subchapter C, unless visual distress signals selected from the list in § 175.130 or the alternatives in § 175.135, in the number required, are onboard. Devices suitable for day use and devices suitable for night use, or devices suitable for both day and night use, must be carried.
— ecfr.gov, retrieved 2026-08-25
CFR section
§ 175.110 Visual distress signals required.