True/False: When swimming out from under an inverted boat, a PFD should be worn at all times.

True/False: When swimming out from under an inverted boat, a PFD should be worn at all times.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not Applicable
• D. Sometimes

Answer: (B)

When escaping from under a capsized boat, getting free and moving to the surface is the priority, and gear decisions must support that escape. A PFD provides buoyancy on the surface, but it isn’t always practical or safe to wear it the entire time while you’re crawling out through a tight, entangling space under the hull. The jacket can snag on hull fittings, lines, or the boat itself, or hinder your mobility in confined passages. If wearing it prevents you from escaping quickly, it’s appropriate to remove it temporarily and then re-don it once you’re clear and on the surface. So it’s not required to wear a PFD at all times in that specific scenario.

When escaping from under a capsized boat, getting free and moving to the surface is the priority, and gear decisions must support that escape. A PFD provides buoyancy on the surface, but it isn’t always practical or safe to wear it the entire time while you’re crawling out through a tight, entangling space under the hull. The jacket can snag on hull fittings, lines, or the boat itself, or hinder your mobility in confined passages. If wearing it prevents you from escaping quickly, it’s appropriate to remove it temporarily and then re-don it once you’re clear and on the surface. So it’s not required to wear a PFD at all times in that specific scenario.