BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Life Jackets Aboard: What French Law Actually Requires, Children Included
How many life jackets are required, the right size, permanent wear for children: France's life jacket regulation explained for boat renters.
The life jacket is the most visible safety item on board — and the least understood in detail. French regulation, set out in Division 240 of the order of 6 May 2019, is nonetheless precise about what is required, especially for children.
One jacket per person, no exceptions
The boat must carry as many CE-marked life jackets as people on board, each sized to its wearer's weight. A serious operator asks for the full crew list at booking, children included, to have the right sizes ready before you arrive.
The specific rule for under-12s
For children under 12, wearing a life jacket is mandatory at all times on deck, not just when the sea picks up. For children under 30 kg, the jacket must provide at least 100 Newtons of buoyancy, regardless of the sailing area — a stricter requirement than the one that applies to adults.
Getting the size right
A jacket that is too big rides up and can let the head slip through when the wearer tips over; one that is too small does not float enough. Sizes are generally split by weight bracket (10-20 kg, 20-30 kg…) rather than by age, so check the child's actual weight rather than their age when choosing.
Inflatable or foam: what changes for a child
Inflatable jackets, common for adults, are not recommended for young children, who may not know how to react if the jacket auto-inflates while swimming. Foam, all-in-one jackets remain the norm for under-12s — that is what operators provide for this age group.
What to check when you board
Count the jackets, try each child's on before you cast off, and ask the operator to show you where they are stowed. Our sailing with kids guide covers the other habits worth having, and our mandatory boat safety equipment guide runs through the rest of the required gear.
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