It’s the most basic and simplest safety precaution you can take on your boat. You and your guests should all be wearing a PFD when you leave the dock.
In Canada, it’s required that there be a proper fitting PFD for everyone on the boat, but people aren’t required to actually wear them. Which means a lot of people don’t. The problem with this: once you fall off the boat, knowing where your lifejacket is located isn’t terribly helpful.
Make wearing a PFD on your boat as basic as wearing a seat belt in the car. Modern PFDs are light and comfortable. Set a safe boating example. Wear a PFD.
Related Articles
Canadian Boating: PFD and Lifejackets – Do They Work?
Transport Canada article: Choosing lifejackets and personal flotation devices (PFDs).
Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety: Protection Against Drowning
Passagemaker Magazine: Wear your PFD