Arkansas life jacket law requires every vessel to carry a properly sized, U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board, and children 12 and under must actually wear theirs any time the boat is underway. Anyone on a personal watercraft or being towed behind a boat has to wear one too, regardless of age.
The Baseline Requirement for Every Vessel
Every vessel on Arkansas waters must carry at least one Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person aboard. Each jacket has to be the correct size for its wearer, in good and serviceable condition, and used according to its approved conditions. A child-sized PFD on an adult doesn’t count, and neither does a ripped or waterlogged jacket shoved under a seat.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-101-203 – Equipment Requirements – Definition
Vessels 16 feet or longer must also carry one Coast Guard-approved throwable flotation device, such as a ring buoy or throwable cushion. The throwable is in addition to the wearable jackets, not a substitute for one.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-101-203 – Equipment Requirements – Definition
Children 12 and Under Must Wear One at All Times
This is the rule that trips up the most families. Children 12 years old or younger must have a life jacket securely fastened to their body at all times while aboard any vessel. Having one on the boat isn’t enough for kids. They have to be wearing it.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-101-203 – Equipment Requirements – Definition
The statute carves out two narrow exceptions. A child doesn’t need to wear the jacket while inside the enclosed cabin area of a houseboat or cruiser that isn’t underway, or while within the railed area of a party barge, cruiser, or houseboat that isn’t underway. The moment the vessel starts moving, the jacket goes back on.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-101-203 – Equipment Requirements – Definition
Personal Watercraft: Everyone Wears One
Every person aboard a personal watercraft, whether operator or passenger, must wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket the entire time they’re on the water. There’s no adult exception and no exception for strong swimmers.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-101-203 – Equipment Requirements – Definition
Arkansas also limits who can operate a PWC by age:
- 16 or older may operate without supervision.
- 12 through 15 may operate only under the direct supervision of someone at least 18.
- Under 12 may operate only under the direct supervision of someone at least 21.
Water Skiing, Tubing, and Wakeboarding
Anyone being towed behind a vessel for water skiing, tubing, wakeboarding, or any similar activity must wear a Coast Guard-approved life preserver or buoyant vest the entire time. It has to be in good and serviceable condition and securely on the person’s body, not sitting in the boat.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-101-203 – Equipment Requirements – Definition
Every vessel towing a person must also have an observer on board in addition to the operator. The observer has to be at least 12 years old and positioned where they can watch the person being towed. A regular motorboat can substitute a wide-angle, convex, marine rear-view mirror that lets the operator see the skier. A personal watercraft cannot. A PWC towing anyone must always have a second person on board watching.2Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. Arkansas Boating Laws and Responsibilities Handbook
Towing a person on skis, a tube, or any similar device is illegal between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise. The only exception is a designated controlled area set up specifically for night water skiing with adequate lighting.2Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. Arkansas Boating Laws and Responsibilities Handbook
Organized Events Are Exempt
The wear requirements for towed water sports, personal watercraft, and children do not apply to participants in organized water carnivals, water skiing exhibitions, and similar organized events. The exemption is narrow. It covers sanctioned events with their own safety protocols, not a casual afternoon of skiing with friends.1Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-101-203 – Equipment Requirements – Definition
What “Good and Serviceable Condition” Means
Arkansas law requires life jackets to be in good and serviceable condition, and officers will check. A faded but intact foam jacket probably passes. One with torn fabric, broken buckles, or compressed foam that no longer floats properly does not. Pull your jackets out before every season and inspect them.
Inflatable jackets need more attention. Manufacturers generally recommend inflating the jacket and checking the CO2 cylinder at least once a year at the start of the season. If you wear one regularly or boat in hot, humid conditions, checking every two to three months is better practice. Replace the CO2 cylinder if it’s been discharged, shows dents or corrosion, or weighs less than the manufacturer’s stated full weight. Most manufacturers recommend replacing the cylinder every five years regardless, and the firing bobbin should be replaced if it’s more than three years old, even if it looks fine.
Penalties for Violations
Under Arkansas Code 27-101-104, violations of the state’s boating equipment and safety laws carry fines ranging from $100 to $250 per violation.3Justia Law. Arkansas Code 27-101-104 – Penalties
The “per violation” language matters. If you’re missing life jackets for three passengers, that’s potentially three separate violations. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission officers routinely stop boats for safety checks, particularly on busy holiday weekends and at popular lakes.