We kept our 2 and 3 1/2 year olds in life jackets at all times. Not the bulky orange ones, but the zipper and buckle
Mustangs (I think) with the head floation pad on the back. We also added the lifeline netting - the best thing we did - so we wouldn''t have heart attacks every time one of them went near the edge. We also bought
harnesses and teathers, marine types, not from Babies R US, but never needed to use them. If the weather was bad enough, we just kept them in the cabin.