>>116438>>How many miles on an average "float"?Depends on the speed of the river but 3 to 5 miles is doable on even a slow lazy river.
>>Lifejackets?Absofuckin'lutely... especially if you're drinking alcohol
>>Permits required?Not normally, maybe in some areas, never heard of it myself.
>>Private property?You may not cross private property to reach the water but:
"The U.S. Supreme Court has held that the bed and banks under all rivers, lakes, and streams that are navigable, for title purposes, are owned by the states, held in trust for the public. Title in this context means ownership. This public-trust ownership extends up to the ordinary high water line, (or ordinary high water mark,) encompassing what is commonly referred to as the submerged and submersible land, as opposed to the upland. This type of navigability is called title navigability."
Applies to all watercraft, quoted from this source:
http://www.adventuresports.com/river/nors/us-law-who-owns.htm 
