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Life jackets for paddlers from September 15 to May 15

October to April

Massachusetts law says anyone in a canoe or kayak between September 15 and May 15 must wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket the whole time, and anyone under 12 aboard and above deck on any boat underway must wear one all year. The National Weather Service says the sudden gasp when you hit cold water raises the risk of drowning, even for confident swimmers in calm water.

Why this time of year

The state's wear-it rule for canoes and kayaks runs from September 15 to May 15, so every paddle through mid-May falls under it. In a May 2021 warning, the Coast Guard's Northeast district said that while the weather may be heating up, water temperatures typically do not get warmer until mid-summer.

How to notice it

  1. Before you launch, put the life jacket on and buckle or zip it all the way, in a canoe or kayak from September 15 to May 15, and on every child under 12 any time of year.
  2. Dress for the water temperature, not the air: the Coast Guard and the National Weather Service both say this, and both list wet suits and dry suits as examples.
  3. Tell someone where you are going and when you will be back (the Coast Guard calls this a float plan), and carry a way to call for help, such as a cell phone or a VHF radio.
  4. If you do go in, the National Weather Service says stay calm, get out of the water as soon as you safely can, and if you cannot reach safety, take the Heat Escape Lessening Position (H.E.L.P.) to slow heat loss while you wait for help.

Try this with kids: Can you buckle your own life jacket all the way up and show me before we push off?

Phrase to know: “Cold shock” is the sudden gasp, fast breathing, and jump in heart rate and blood pressure the body has when it hits cold water.

Safety

  • Massachusetts regulation 323 CMR 2.07(10): any person aboard a canoe or kayak between January 1 to May 15 and between September 15 to December 31 shall wear at all times a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type I, II, or III.
  • Massachusetts regulation 323 CMR 2.07(14): any person under 12 years of age, aboard and above deck on any vessel underway, shall wear at all times a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type I, II, III or V.
  • On a stand-up paddleboard, state law requires a Coast Guard approved wearable life jacket on board for each person; the Coast Guard's Northeast district says to always wear a life jacket, even if not required by law.
  • National Weather Service: cold shock can cause dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, and the sudden gasp creates a greater risk of drowning, even for confident swimmers in calm waters.
  • National Weather Service: if the water is too cold, consider staying off or out of the water until it is warmer.

Sources

  • law.cornell.eduPrimary regulation text (323 CMR 2.07, hosted by Cornell LII), read 2026-11-10: (10) 'Any person aboard a canoe or kayak between January 1 to May 15 and between September 15 to December 31 shall wear at all times a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device of Type I, II, or III'; (14) 'Any person under 12 years of age, aboard and above deck on any vessel underway ... shall wear at all times'.
  • malegislature.govPrimary statute (MGL c.90B s.5A), read 2026-11-10: 'unpowered vessels such as canoes, kayaks and stand-up-paddleboards, shall carry at least 1 United States Coast Guard approved wearable personal flotation device ... for each person on board'. Carry rule only; the wear rule is in 323 CMR 2.07(10).
  • plymouth-ma.govTown of Plymouth official page (secondary to the state rule), read 2026-11-10, Paddle Sports Safety: 'Life jackets are required to be worn from September 15th to May 15th.'
  • dvidshub.netUS Coast Guard First District (Boston) release, May 21, 2021, read 2026-11-10: water temperatures 'in the 50s and don't typically get warmer until mid-summer around July and August'; 'Dress appropriately for the water temperature, not the air temperature'; 'Always wear a life jacket, even if not required by law'; addressed to 'Boaters, kayakers, surfers, and stand-up paddlers'; 'File a float plan'; carry 'VHF Radio, or cell phone'.
  • weather.govNational Weather Service cold water safety page, read 2026-11-10: 'Cold Shock can cause dramatic changes in breathing, heart rate and blood pressure'; 'Wearing a life jacket significantly increases chances of survival'; 'Always dress for water temperature, not for air temperature'; if immersed, minimize time in water, H.E.L.P. position if you cannot reach safety.

Checked against these sources on November 10, 2026.

In the guide for October, November, December, January, February, March, April

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