The simple truth is this: By the time you need a lifejacket, it's too late to put one on.

And yet… and yet…

Most of our governments in both of our countries essentially tell us the exact opposite. They tell us that by having one accessible, you can still put one on when you need it.

If you're unconscious, you can still put one on.

If you've been thrown into the water and your gasp reflex has you actually inhaling water into your lungs, you can still take a few minutes to put on a lifejacket.

They tell us that, when they compel us to put lifejackets and PFDs in our boats, but not to wear them.

It's like telling people to strap a motorcycle helmet to your bike…. Because you might need it if you get into an incident.

Two years ago, when a 46 year-old angler in Pike County, Pennsylvania fell off his motorboat and died, that incident happened as quickly as any motorcycle incident on any interstate.

Making PFDs mandatory to wear - not just to have - may be difficult to achieve. It may be resisted. It may assault the pride of a boater.

None of that is really the point.

The point is that not having a regulatory standard from the most powerful voice in the country - a voice we look to for public information about safety - is sending the wrong signal. It undermines everything we are trying to do.

Having clear direction tells everyone in Canada and the U.S.: You need to wear this thing before the incident, because you won't have the time to put it on when you need it.

In truth, just having the debate is important. I am convinced that by fuelling the debate about the mandatory wearing of PFDs, we are doing more than anything else to raise awareness about this issue.

In my experience, the hurdle is not even quite as high as we might all think.