← West Virginia boating laws›Life Jacket Rules
West Virginia Life Jacket Rules (2026)
Conditional: West Virginia bars operating a recreational vessel underway with a child under 13 aboard unless the child wears an approved PFD or is below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
ConditionalVerified Jul 7, 2026
Boating rules change at the state line — and in your state.Track them in the free LawLert iPhone app: it alerts you when you cross into a state where they differ, and when they change in your state. No account.Get the appWest Virginia bars operating a recreational vessel underway with a child under 13 aboard unless the child wears an approved PFD or is below deck or in an enclosed cabin.
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