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[spinnerbation]

US Coast Guard PFD Regulations for PFD’s purchased in Canada?

Posted this on some other boards, thought I’d try here as well! And I feel like I may have asked this before so I apologize if this is a repeat post. My memory was never my strong suit! lol

I am a resident of Ontario Canada and I fish the BFL Michigan series as a Co-Angler. As you know these events are on Lake St Clair, Lake Erie, Detroit River & St Clair River all of which are considered “border waters”. Given these events are held on these Border Waters I am wondering what the regulations are for PFD usage?

According the regs up here we can use a PFD from the US as long as it meets the US Coats Guard construction standards. However, I am curious if this works the other way around? I tried finding it on their website, called and emailed without any success. Does anyone know if I use my jacket I bought in Ontario if I would meet the US Coast Guard requirements provided it meets Ontario’s current standards?

Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated!

[Waterfoul]

Not sure in the exact regs, but I work for West Marine and the PFD's we sell here are the same ones we sell in Canada, eh. (    )

[spinnerbation]

I know, as per my understanding the PFD’s construction doesn’t change, only who certifies them after they are manufactured. So if sold in CAN it’s the DOT, if US it’s the  USCG. I’d hate to invest in something up here only to find out I can’t use it down there because of a red tape bureaucratic money grab technicality...ehh

[Waterfoul]

I'd call one of the US Coastgaurd stations directly.

The number for Sector Detroit is 313-568-9525