Anybody ever ride in a barefooting suit?

[EightySeven550]

Hey all
I often ride in my barefoot suit. Its a shorty wetsuit with a PFD built in.

Built in PFD makes for nice padding when I mess up and hit the ski.

What do yall think?

 

[Swooperjet]

I'm curious about that too. I thought about picking up one of those last year, but wasn't sure if the built in PFD was approved for riding legally here. It definately seems like it'd be a good idea, mostly just for not having to hassle with the vest.

 

[Odd Duck]

Barefoot suits are not USCG approved (at least, I've never seen one advertised as being approved, they all say otherwise) so you would still need an approved vest in addition to the suit. Would be nicely padded, though.

 

[WFO Speedracer]

I always thought it was a great idea but I don't think it is approved either.

 

[Snackem]

I know that in Oregon and Washington they are not approved. I used to wear one when I still water skied. When I would barefoot I wore full length wet suit underneath my barefoot suit. It still hurt when I fell.mfg:

 

[Sailin817]

As far as I know, my suit is rated for "High Speed" water sports and it has a rating of "PFD Type 3. Keeps me afloat pretty well too.

 

[Vumad]

Jet skis are required to have a USCG approced PFD types 1,2,3 or 5. Can someone please confirm my numbers (1,2,3,5) are correct?

 

[Shonuff]

I used to in 1991 until I got a ticket for not wearing a USCG approved vest.

 

[Vumad]

As of May 1, 1995 federal law stipulates that every vessel
less than 16 feet in length must be equipped with one Type
I, II, or III PFD for each person on board. Type IV PFDs
— which are not intended to be worn, but thrown to an
overboard passenger — do not meet the federal
requirement. Type IV PFDs include buoyant cushions, ring
buoys, and horseshoe buoys. Fifty-one states have changed
their requirements on Type IV PFDs to be consistent with
federal law. Penalties for violating PFD laws range from a
$25 fine to a $1,000 fine and jail time for excessively
repeating violations.

http://www.uscgboating.org/regulations/Nasbla_Ref_Guide_6.pdf

PWC pg. 40
PFD pg 41

Copywrite 2000. Things may have changed. There is no mention of type 5 PFD. Type 5 is a PFD that meets the qualifications of type 1, 2, and 3.

The rules should apply to PWCs. A PWC is not a boat, but the document uses the word "vessel", which should be all encompusing.