---
kind: "section"
citation: "46 C.F.R. § 117.71"
title: "46"
number: "117.71"
heading: "Lifejackets."
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/46/117.71"
---

# §117.71. Lifejackets.

- (a) An adult life jacket must be provided for each person carried on board a vessel.
- (b) In addition, a number of child-size life jackets equal to at least 10% of the number of persons permitted on board must be provided, or such greater number as necessary to provide a life jacket for each person being carried that is smaller than the lower size limit of the adult life jackets provided to meet this section, except that:
  - (1) Child-size life jackets are not required if the vessel's Certificate of Inspection is endorsed for the carriage of adults only, or
  - (2) When all “extended size” life preservers (those with a lower size limit for persons of 1,195 millimeters (47 inches) in height or weighing 20.4 kilograms (45 pounds)) are carried on board, a minimum of only 5% additional child size devices need be carried.
- (c) Each lifejacket must be approved under approval series 160.002, 160.005, 160.055, 160.155, 160.176, or 160.255 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant. An inflatable lifejacket approved under approval series 160.255 must include a full back-up inflation chamber.
- (d) Each life jacket carried on board the vessel must be marked in accordance with [§ 122.604](/cfr/46/122.604.md) of this chapter.

## Notes

### Amendments

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51047, Sept. 30, 1997; CGD 85-080, 62 FR 51350, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-2015-0867, 80 FR 62469, Oct. 16, 2015; USCG-2023-0759, 89 FR 22949, Apr. 3, 2024; USCG-2022-0120, 89 FR 97387, Dec. 6, 2024]

### Authority

Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 3306; E.O. 12234, 45 FR 58801, 3 CFR, 1980 Comp., p. 277; DHS Delegation 00170.1, Revision No. 01.4.

### Source

Source: CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, unless otherwise noted.

### Amendments

[CGD 85-080, 61 FR 911, Jan. 10, 1996, as amended by CGD 97-057, 62 FR 51047, Sept. 30, 1997; CGD 85-080, 62 FR 51350, Sept. 30, 1997; USCG-2015-0867, 80 FR 62469, Oct. 16, 2015; USCG-2023-0759, 89 FR 22949, Apr. 3, 2024; USCG-2022-0120, 89 FR 97387, Dec. 6, 2024]