11/04/2025
Mandatory Cold Weather Life Jacket Wear
N.J.A.C. Regulation 13:82-1.4(f)
Starting this November, no owner or operator of a recreational vessel less than 26 feet—including rowboats, canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards—may permit its operation between November 1 and May 1 unless each person on board is wearing a securely fastened U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) of an appropriate size while the vessel is underway. Individuals inside a cabin are exempt from this requirement.
In short, a USCG-approved life jacket must be worn at all times, outside of a cabin, on any boat under 26 feet while underway during the cold-water months, from November 1 through May 1.
This regulation helps prevent hypothermia-related deaths and reduces the risks faced by first responders during winter search and rescue operations. In nearly every case of a vessel-related drowning, the victim was not wearing a life jacket.
Always prepare for boating in cold-water conditions by wearing a securely fastened PFD.
