Boaties in summer hot spots don't appear to be getting the lifejacket message.

Waikato Regional Council maritime staff were out patrolling between Whangamata and Tairua yesterday to make sure people were wearing the right sized lifejackets.

Spokeswoman Nicola Botherway says they were focusing on vessels less than six metres long where wearing lifejackets is mandatory.

She says they came across a small powerboat with two men and young boy on board not wearing lifejackets.

Ms Botherway says when asked to put them on, one man put on a lifejacket two sizes too big, and even worse, an adult's extra-large size was put on the boy.