11/23/2025
Here at Upper Delaware, we are thankful for living in an area where we have endless opportunities to recreate 365 days a year. But as we move into the cold weather months, we wanted to take a moment to remind anyone intending to head out on the Upper Delaware River this fall, winter or spring that mandatory cold weather life jacket wear is in effect immediately through April 30, 2026. Any person in a boat less than 16ft in length and any canoe or kayak is required to wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (life jacket) during these cold weather months.
The mandatory cold weather life jacket wear regulation was established in 2012 by Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and can do a great deal to be effective in saving someone’s life during these cold-water boating months. Cold water shock is a major factor in boating fatalities when water temperatures are less than 70 degrees. It happens quickly when someone is suddenly immersed in cold water. The water does not have to be freezing; cold water shock often occurs in water temperatures above 50 degrees. Wearing a life jacket in these conditions greatly increases the chance of survival and will save lives. Those wearing a life jacket when exposed to cold water have potentially life-saving advantages such as insulation from the cold, buoyancy, and reduced risk of aspiration of water. Without wearing a life jacket, your chances of survival in a cold-water immersion are greatly decreased.
Please visit https://www.pa.gov/.../regulations/cold-weather-life-jacket for specific regulations regarding the cold-water mandatory wear regulation and for cold water safety tips.
