(A) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any vessel, other than a commercial vessel or other vessel exempted by rules adopted under section 1547.52 of the Revised Code, on the waters in this state:

1. (1) That is sixteen feet or greater in length without carrying aboard one type one, two, or three personal flotation device for each person aboard and one type four personal flotation device;
2. (2) That is less than sixteen feet in length, including canoes and kayaks of any length, without carrying aboard one type one, two, or three personal flotation device for each person aboard.

(C) No person shall operate or permit to be operated any commercial vessel on the waters in this state:

1. (1) That is less than forty feet in length and is not carrying persons for hire without carrying aboard at least one type one, two, or three personal flotation device for each person aboard;
2. (2) That is carrying persons for hire or is forty feet in length or longer and is not carrying persons for hire without carrying aboard at least one type one personal flotation device for each person aboard;
3. (3) That is twenty-six feet in length or longer without carrying aboard at least one type four ring life buoy in addition to the applicable requirements of divisions (C)(1) and (2) of this section.