I threaten to sue anyone who refuses to wear one in my boat, if they get hurt. (For my own, it's mandatory....zero issues even after they're no longer required by law ..age 13.)
Sometimes, the air you 'let in'matters less than the air you 'let out'.
BE STRONG IN THE LORD, AND IN HIS MIGHTY POWER. ~ Ephesians 6:10
Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery. --Winston Churchill
No kids in my boat either without a life jacket. I don't care if they can swim like a fish. The Jackets now days are made to fit comfortably, not like the old 4" thick ones. Tarkio has it right. Spend a couple of extra bucks on an Auto-Fill jacket. You can buy a re-fill cylinder and they can be used over and over. I never got a complaint from a kid about putting one on.
I watched a knuckle head launch his kayak into the feather river, which was moving fast while I was striper fishing from the bank. I asked if He was floating down and how far. He replied he was going to anchor and fish? 😳 I didn't see a life jacket and told him good luck and have fun! Two minutes later I hear a splash and see him bobbing and screaming For help. Us guys on the beach got a boaters attention and they went and got his ass. Lucky fellow flipped his rig by dropping Anchor from his seat and it was almost a fatal mistake. I felt hopeless and thought I was going to watch him drown. Again. Hes very lucky A boater/Good Samaritan saved him.........
don't about other places, but they ones on the news that they fish out of the lakes around here never have on their jackets.
We have a saying at work,
It may not save your life every time but if not, it makes it easier for them to find your sorry ass so your family can bury you.
Worked at one place where it was required but we had a couple of folks that wouldn't every time. I was safety officer at that time and reported one dude more than once. I'm not even sure the bosses wrote him up the second time.
Geno
The desert is a true treasure for him who seeks refuge from men and the evil of men. In it is contentment In it is death and all you seek (Quoted from "The Bleeding of the Stone" Ibrahim Al-Koni)