Life jackets carried but not worn: 87% of boating drowning victims

U.S. Coast Guard data shows that drowning is the cause of death in 76% of recreational boating fatalities, and 87% of those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket. Federal and state law requires every vessel, including kayaks and stand-up paddleboards, to carry at least one Coast Guard-approved PFD per person, but for adults there is generally no requirement to actually wear them (only children under a certain age, varying by state, must wear them). The result is a compliance theater: boats pass inspection because PFDs are stowed under seats, but nobody puts them on, and when a sudden capsize or fall overboard happens, there is no time to retrieve and don a life jacket in the water. The Coast Guard estimates that 4 out of 5 boating drowning deaths could have been prevented by wearing a PFD. This problem persists because PFD design has historically prioritized Coast Guard certification compliance over comfort and wearability (bulky orange foam vests that restrict movement and feel hot), creating a user experience so poor that people actively avoid wearing them. Inflatable belt-pack PFDs exist but cost $80-150+ and most recreational boaters don't know about them. There is no federal mandate to wear PFDs, only to carry them.