THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, April 29, 1995 TAG: 9504290352
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Short : 27 lines
Starting Monday, all boats in the United States - even canoes - will have to carry wearable life preservers for everyone aboard.
The new Coast Guard regulation extends the requirement to all boats under 16 feet in length.
Larger vessels already had to meet that standard.
Seat cushions with straps and other floating items will no longer count in meeting the federal requirement that everyone aboard a recreational vessel have a flotation device, the agency said.
The regulation was announced Aug. 4, 1993, but the effective date was set at May 1, 1995, to give everyone time to obtain the new life preservers, officials said.
The rule covers all lakes, rivers and other waters in the country. by CNB