Kenneth R. Crutcher

I want to comment favorably on the idea of permitting youth, ages, 13-16, to wear inflatable PFDs when sailing or boating. We all know the resistance from children about "having to wear a life jacket" and we all know that there really are no other options. Kids must wear PFDs! However, having worn an inflatable Pfd for over 17 years - most of the time - I can attest to the lack of discomfort and the effectiveness of an inflatable Pfd. The first obvious benefit of relaxing this rule and creating standards for "Youth Inflatable PFDs" would be the increase in young adults actually wearing them - and the obvious increase in boating safety. Also, I suspect that many 13-16 year olds who are "big for their age" are already wearing inflatable PFD. I have never seen the Coast Guard ask for ID when doing a safe boating check from the passengers. Regarding the Maintenance Issue: I have observed Junior Sailors taking care of their Optis, Laser, & 420s, and most of them are more meticulous with their boat and their boating gear - than they are with the condition of the room at home or schoolwork! It is my observation that we are slowly making progress in getting people to actually wear life vests and a good part of the success of this campaign has been the increased "wear ability" of this equipment. Let's continue the mission by making this gear available to our young adults and presume the results will continue to improve.