Do boats have capacity limits? Are life jackets required? What to know about safety

The Florida Keys boat crash on Labor Day weekend has left South Florida grieving the loss of a teen girl and praying for recovery of the injured.

Everyone is shocked, wondering what went wrong — and wanting to know how to prevent another tragedy in the future.

READ MORE: All 14 on boat in deadly crash off the Florida Keys were ejected, official report says

Here are answers to some of the boating safety questions that may be on your mind.

Are life jackets required onboard?

Most people don’t have to wear a life jacket while on board, according to a boating regulations summary from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Children under 6 are required to wear a life jacket, vest or other flotation aid while on a boat smaller than 26 feet.

Boats are required to have enough wearable U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices for each person on board. They must be easily accessible and adequately fit the intended wearer.

One throwable ring buoy or cushion is required on boats longer than 16 feet.

Before the next time you hit the water, make sure you have safety equipment. Law enforcement has the right to conduct inspections on the water to check for equipment and registration compliance.

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How old do you have to be to drive a boat in Florida?

Anyone over the age of 14 can operate a boat in Florida, according to FWC’s boating regulations summary. But unless you’re 18, you can’t rent one.

If you allow someone under 14 to take a shot at driving, you can be charged a second-degree misdemeanor, which can mean 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

Is training required to drive a boat?

While you can drive a boat at 14, you still need to complete training before heading onto the water.

If you were born on or after Jan. 1, 1988, and want to operate a boat powered by 10 horsepower or more, you must pass an approved boater safety course, according to FWC’s boating regulations summary. After you pass the course, you can receive your Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card.

Make sure to pack your photo ID and Florida boating safety ID before a day out in the water. A law enforcement officer can ask for your documents at any time.

However, there are few ways you can operate a boat without completing the safety course. Exceptions include driving on a private lake or being accompanied by someone who has their Florida boating safety ID.

READ MORE: Coast Guard got alert 20 minutes after boat crash, timeline says

Do boats have capacity limits?

When it comes to boat capacity limits, the law on the books are murky.

Florida law states that no one can operate a monohull motorboat smaller than 20 feet while exceeding the maximum weight, persons or horsepower capacity displayed on the manufacturer’s capacity plate.

But despite limited laws, boats under 20 feet have limits listed on their capacity plates.

Boats’ capacity plates are usually found on the inside transom or next to the helm station, according to Boat U.S. Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses its efforts on recreational boating advocacy and safety. Capacity plates should never be removed or altered.

Capacity plates apply in good and moderate weather conditions. When encountering rough waters, it’s best to keep below the limit. Overloading a boat — either with too many passengers or supplies — can make it susceptible to swamping or capsizing.

Boat U.S. Foundation recommends that you keep weight low, distribute the boat’s load evenly and avoid abrupt changes in distribution. The nonprofit also warns that people are a “live load” and their movement affects boats differently than static loads.

There’s even a formula you can use to roughly estimate passenger capacity. Multiply the length of the boat by the width of the boat and divide it by 15 to get the number of people the boat should safely hold.

Number of people = length (ft.) x width (ft.) ÷ 15

This formula, however, should only be used on mono-hull boats less than 20 feet long.

Boats longer than 26 feet have a “Yacht Certified” plate and don’t include passenger capacity limits.