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SUP PFD & Life Jacket Requirements

by Samuel Wayne in Legacy Articles

US Coast Guard (USCG) SUP Rules & Regulations

inflatable sup pfd

On October 3rd 2008 the US Coast Guard (USCG) ruled that a stand up paddleboard (SUPs) is classified as a “vessel”.  To learn more, check out the USCG vessel determination page. Once SUPs were classified as vessels that made them subject to certain boating safety regulations.  Please note that this refers to Stand Up Paddleboards where the user stands on the board and uses a paddle to propel it.  (Note: “Traditional Paddleboards”, where the user uses his hands to propel the boat forward, are not subject to these rules).

This guide is only an informational overview of the federal rules - it is not legal advice!  State and local governments may apply additional rules, so please consult your local authorities for additional information.

Summary of the Rules

Area of Use

  1. Surf or Swimming/Bathing Area - when using a SUP in either of these areas you are exempt from “carriage requirements” and so not required to have items like a PFD, whistle, or light.

  2. Other Water - whenever in an area outside of the surf break or defined swimming/bathing area, the SUP is classified as a vessel and falls into a category with other paddle craft, like a kayak.

Carriage Requirements (What You Must Have while Paddleboarding)

While you are in an area of “Other Water” as classified above

  1. PFD (Personal Floatation Device)
  2. Sound Producing Device
  3. Navigation Light - if on the water after sunset
  4. Visual Distress Signal (VDS) - subject to SUP length and time of day*

PFD (Personal Floatation Device) / Life Jacket

PFDs or Life jackets are always a good idea to have with you while on the water.  The requirements state:

  • Children of age 12 and under are required to wear a USCG approved life vest at all times. It can be either Type I, II, or III. Make sure the life vest is the correct size for your child's weight and height. 
  • Adults and children over 13 are required to have a PFD onboard, not necessarily on their body. Once again the PFD must be a USCG Approved Type I, II, or III.

View StoreYourBoard’s collection of SUP Life Jackets

Inflatable PFDs - a popular type of PFD for Paddleboarders is a belt type or suspenders type inflatable life vest.  These can only be worn by people 16 years and older. They also must be worn at all times, even by adults.

inflatable-sup-belt-vest.jpg

View StoreYourBoard’s Collection of Inflatable SUP PFDs

More details on life vests from the USCG can be found here.

A nice overview of the different types of PFDs can be found here.

Sound Producing Device

A whistle or sound producing device must be carried to warn other boaters. Something like this SUP Saftey Whistle

Navigation Lights

A navigation light is required only if you are on the water after sunset and before sunrise.  SUPs and other paddle craft are only required to have a flashlight as a navigation light.  They do not need to have installed navigation lights.

Visual Distress Signal (VDS)

**A VDS is only required when paddling offshore and between sunset and sunrise (for typical SUPs under 16ft in length).

A VDS is something like a flare that can alert other boats or rescue personnel of your location. If your SUP is 16 feet or longer you are required to carry a VDS both day and night if paddling offshore.  If your SUP is shorter than 16ft than you are only required to carry a VDS between sunset and sunrise.

Required Rules to Follow as a Vessel Operator

Since a SUP is a vessel there are a few other rules that need to be followed to stay safe.

  1. Navigation Rules - similar to the rules of the road there are certain rules to the water so that all types of vessels can use the water safely. USCG Navigation Rules can be found here
  2. Accident Reporting - as a vessel operator you are also required to report any boating accidents to the local reporting authority, either the USCG or other agency that have been delegated that authority.

Other Notes

  • Registration Numbers - In most states you are not required to register your SUP or display registration numbers.
  • Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) - The USCG has waived the requirement for manufacturers to put unique HIN on Stand Up Paddleboards.

Additional Resources

State Boating Laws by the USCG here.

Searchable Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) can be found here. Most recreational boating regulations can be found in 33 CFR between 173 and 187.

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Your paddleboard is ready – you’ve screwed in your fins, strapped up your leash, maybe grabbed your wetsuit, and are ready to hit the water, whether it’s the surf, the lake, the river, the bay, or otherwise. Only thing you need to do is get your paddleboard from your house to the water. For most people, this means using a SUP roof rack to strap your SUP to the roof of your car. Seems simple – throw it on the roof, strap it up and get going – but there are a number of finer points about different roof racks and their use and setup to optimize the safety and protection of your paddleboard while it’s strapped to the roof of your car as you drive off at the crack of dawn to catch a glass session. Choosing a Paddleboard Roof Rack for Your Car There are lots of different types of paddleboard roof racks to choose from and there are a variety of price points in the roof rack market. 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Because of the different roof racks, each will be attached differently, but it’s important that no matter what rack you have, you take care in installing it properly. For rack pads, velcro them on your roof rack bars tightly. For straps, clamp them down tightly and check them for any worn or weak spots. For more specialty paddleboard racks, follow the instructions and make sure they fit properly with your car. After you’ve installed the rack, do a quick post-inspection so you really know that everything is snug and secure. You don’t want to lose a paddleboard because you were in a rush and forgot to attach a part of your rack. For cars with roof rack bars, the standard setup is roof rack pads that fasten to your bars and act as a cushion between the bars and your paddleboard, and a strap system to secure your paddleboard to the rack pads. The pads fit around the roof rack bars and secure typically with velcro. 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Paddleboards come in different sizes, but they’re all pretty big, and if you have a small car, the straps on your roof rack setup may not be wide enough apart to adequately secure your paddleboard. For example, if you’re trying to strap a rack to a car without roof rack bars, it secures underneath the roof via the inside of the car. Generally, the front strap runs through the open space created by the front door and the back strap runs through the open space created by the back door. If you have a coupe, you only have a front door. So both your front and back straps will have to be secured via that space. The distance then between your front and back roof rack pads and straps will not be that great. If you strap in your paddleboard the straps may only be 3 or so feet apart. On a 12 foot paddleboard, that leaves almost 5 feet in the front and back of the board without any support. 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Fins in the front: It may sound like a Jimmy Buffett song, but as mentioned, in a worst-case scenario, fins act as a last line of defense against your paddleboard wiggling free and flying off your car. If your boards start to slide backward, the fins catch on the straps and restrict how far backward the boards slide. Also, it’s more likely the tail of your paddleboard is thicker and flatter, so it has more strength and better shape to cut through the air as you’re cruising down the road. Securing Your Paddleboard to Your Roof Rack Once you’ve loaded up your paddleboard, it’s time to strap it down. For cars with roof rack bars, it’s all about feeding the straps around the bars and your paddleboard in the right direction for maximum security. You’ll have two straps, one in front and one in back. Start with the clamp end of the first strap on the outside of the board, underneath the roof rack bar. Run the strap across the top width of the paddleboard to the other side of the board, underneath the rack bar, and back along the width of the board. There it will meet the clamp end, and you will tighten appropriately. Tie off the excess strap and give your paddleboard and the straps a couple of pulls to make sure nothing is loose. For cars without roof rack bars, securing the roof rack straps is a bit more straight forward. The front straps and back straps each extend from both sides of the car. Pull them up from each side over your paddleboard and secure the plain end through the clamp and tighten. Repeat for both front and back straps, once again giving the straps a couple of pulls to double check. Don’t overtighten your straps. Avoid damaging your paddleboard by wrenching your roof rack straps too tightly around it. Different paddleboards are made of different materials, but you can crack fiberglass or other board materials if you pull your straps too tight. Find that just right tightness for your paddleboard. Mind your straps. Take the extra couple of seconds and make sure your straps are straight and not twisted around your board for maximum contact and hold. Then tie off the ends of the straps, as nothing good can come from them flapping in the breeze. Stacking Multiple Paddleboards When you’re heading out with a couple of your friends and need to stack multiple paddleboards on the roof of your car, one on top of the other, a few more issues come into play. Biggest paddleboard on the bottom. The biggest paddleboard goes at the bottom of the stack of SUPs because it provides the best foundation/ stability. Watch the spacing of fins and tails. Make sure there’s some space between the tails of the paddleboards and the fins facing up from the boards below them. If you stack your SUPs too closely together, with some wiggle or if you hit a bump, the tail of one paddleboard could be cut by the fins from the paddleboard below it. 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