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December 04, 2025 Clouds | 21°F
The 194th General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
  1. General Laws
  2. Part I ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT
  3. Title XIV PUBLIC WAYS AND WORKS
  4. Chapter 90B MOTORBOATS, OTHER VESSELS AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLES
  5. Section 5A Personal floatation devices

Section 5A

Section 5A: Personal floatation devices

[ Text of section effective until April 8, 2025. For text effective April 8, 2025, see below.]

  Section 5A. Every vessel not subject to the provisions of section five shall carry one Coast Guard approved personal floatation device of Type I, II or III for each person on board, in good and serviceable condition in a readily accessible location. Each amphibious landing vehicle shall have 1 Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type I, II or III that shall be in a readily accessible location for each passenger under 10 years of age. This section shall not apply to vessels used in competitive rowing, sculling or supervised intercollegiate sailing programs, rafts, surfboards, sail fish, so called, or any similar type of vessel.

Chapter 90B: Section 5A. Wearable personal floatation devices

[Text of section as amended by 2024, 350, Sec. 10 effective April 8, 2025. For text effective until April 8, 2025, see above.]

  Section 5A. Every vessel not subject to section 5, including, but not limited to, unpowered vessels such as canoes, kayaks and stand-up-paddleboards, shall carry at least 1 United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of appropriate size and type for each person on board in good and serviceable condition in a readily accessible location and additional personal flotation devices as the director may deem necessary. Each amphibious landing vehicle shall have at least 1 United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device of appropriate size and type in good and serviceable condition that shall be in a readily accessible location for each passenger under 10 years of age. This section shall not apply to vessels used in competitive rowing, sculling or supervised intercollegiate sailing programs, rafts, surfboards, sail fish or any similar type of vessel.