A not so funny screw up...

[Franki]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

LOL tailfin,<br /><br />probably a common sentiment...<br /><br />Do autoinflatables inflate when they get wet? or do they have a trigger of some sort to pump them up??<br /><br />I ask because I'm an excellent swimmer and could easily swim miles if needed.. however i am more concerned with being knocked out and going overboard.. when swimming is not possible.. so whatever measure I use would need to either inflate automatically if dunked or would need to have floatation from the get go.<br /><br />rgds<br /><br />Franki

 

[flydangler]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Wear mine all the time 'cause I'm not stupid any more.<br /><br />Few years back in my canoe got nailed and sunk by a guy in a big Bayliner that wasn't paying attention. I didn't always wear one before that, but sure do now.<br /><br />Where I fish the number of folks with more boat than brains keeps going up every year and boating fatalities in MA & RI are climbing. Apparently CT actually enforces their boating safety, so we've seen a big increase in unsafe operators with CT numbers around here the past year or two.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Franki, auto inflatables inflate when you pull on a cord, hard to do if you're knocked out when you fall in the water.

 

[Dman]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

They do make the Auto-inflate vests.<br />Once they are submerged in water, the vest releases the CO2 and fills the vest.<br />About $135.<br />D

 

[deofc]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Lot's of "us" can swim. We can swim to the dock if we fall in....we can swim to shore if we fall out...the water is shallow so we can walk....BUT can you swim if you are "knocked out" or injured or cramp up from the exertion..or can you swim very well with boots or shoes or heavy wet clothes...can you seim for a long time or a long distance in "cold" water....can you drag someone else who can't swim...Probably not. Wear a life vest!!!

 

[gaugeguy]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Had another buddy roll a canoe in a lake just after ice out. Water temp maybe 40. He said his muscles just locked up and he had all he could do to raise his arms to hold onto the side of his overturned boat. He was only 30 yards from shore tops, and he said there was no way he could have swam that far (he is a good swimmer). Took me about 3 minutes to paddle to him and then another couple to drag him to shore. That was his eye opener, he now wears the vest.

 

[Mr.Ladyfish]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

LF bought me an auto-inflatable and I wore it for a full summer then she started making jokes about poking pinholes in it. I decided to test it at the end of the year since you are supposed to replace the "trigger" annually. I jumped off our dock and the thing almost broke my jaw. My hair didn't even get wet. I won't go on a boat without it. I have to laugh about one thing though. If it doesn't auto-inflate there is a red handle for you to pull to manually release the CO2 cartridge. If that doesn't work there is a straw which you can blow into to inflate the vest. I got news for them...I don't swim and if I fall in and the first 2 don't work I'll be too panicked to remember the straw or blow into it.

 

[oddjob]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Always when underway, or at all times when alone, I have a vest but found out it will not float you upright, so I use it when with friends. I cant afford the automatic as of yet, so we all (my family)look like may west but its worth the piece of mind....IT wont malfunction unless you dont put it on. <br /><br />Ps I am a very good swimmer....all my life...I hope to be.

 

[Tinkerer2]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

I wear one when in the boat away from a dock.<br /><br />If I have one of my kids in the boat I insist they wear theirs as soon as or before they get in, so I have to set the example by wearing mine.<br /><br />I wear one when on my own. I've fallen in boats like my 12 foot dinghy a few times when standing up pulling up anchors etc and a wave or swell has unbalanced me. I've realised that if things had been a bit different I could have gone over the side, maybe with rope tangled around me, instead of managing to fall back into the boat.<br /><br />If wind and tide are against me or the boat is moving away under power then I'm likely to drown without a life jacket. <br /><br />I can't drown as I'm nowhere near finishing the boat or respraying the motor yet, not to mention finishing the house and garden renovations.<br /><br />I bought crutch straps for my and the kid's vests as I reckon a failing or unconscious person could slip low enough in the collar to drown without them. They'll chafe if we're in the water for long but I'd rather have red nuts than be dead.

 

[Link]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

This has turned into a very good thread.<br />I'd have to say Always and Never!<br />I'm only talking about small boats under 20 feet.<br /><br />Always:<br />Cold weather Always.. General boating or fishing we have CG approved Jackets. And Always when alone! I also always have the kill switch hooked up to me. And always while under way as it only takes one nasty wave or wake to ruin your day.<br /><br />This one I've given a lot of thought to the last few years!<br /> <br />NEVER:<br />Good weather:<br />Never on small lakes while trolling or just people watching. And NEVER when Bass fishing using only a electric trolling motor! <br /><br />Does Dumb come to mind !!<br /><br />It did to me! So this year we are going to buy three auto vests for boating/fishing in the summer. Looking cool and not wearing bulky crap is great. But dead is still DEAD! <br /><br /><Link> Looks at Auto Vest.. Nope LadyFish hasn't talked to Mrs Link yet! Nope no holes yet LOL

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

I thank you guys for considering my thread a wakeup call. <br /><br />Link, you are right. Dead is dead. Bulky isn't fun. Dead is even less fun. What difference does the size of the boat make? You are on the water, you wear it, period. The Titanic was 3 football fields long and people drowned on it. I don't trust any boat, no matter how big.<br /><br />One time I was trying to "get an even tan" on my jet ski, so I was riding around with it laying on the seat in front of me. I had been riding around for only a few minutes when I went off to the side of the lake to "tan." I shut off the engine and was approached by a rather plain-jane looking bass boat, WITH TWO WILDLIFE INFISHERIES AGENTS IN IT! I thought, "Oh craap! No lifejacket and no kill switch, they are going to burn me!" They are always in big bay-type boats in Toledo Bend, well now they are not always!!!<br /><br />They let me off because when I do ride with no lifejacket, I ride slow and careful, and they had been observing me and they took that into consideration. They did tell me it was 50 per offense, making 100 bucks! I thanked them profusely!!

 

[kenjudy1]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

As an X charter boat skipper and commercial fisherman for over 20 years I always have everyone in my small (16) ft wear life jackets including me. I have witnessed too many drownings in that time to take water anything but serious. Anytime I was single handing when fishing in open ocean I always wore a jacket, do not know how I would have caught the boat if I had gone overboard though.Just hope someone would come by. Ken

 

[Dan Beisel]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

I learned my life jacket lesson from my own stupid human trick (too painfull and long to tell here).<br /><br />The end result was my wife and I ending up in the drink (with no jackets ) along with our kids (wearing jackets of course ). Fortunately we were by the dock so we didn't have far to swim and nobody was hurt (except the trim on a cabin cruiser).<br /><br />No one in my boat will EVER go without a jacket again!!!!!<br /><br />If it's one thing I've learned the short time I've owned a boat it's: Be prepared for the unexpected!<br /><br />P.S. Wearers should test their jackets in a pool or something to make sure they work right.

 

[jtexas]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

ajollyrogering, welcome to the board! you know eventually you're going to have to tell your story - otherwise you'll never obtain "closure." <br /><br />Got ticketed once in Louisiana on my Dad's boat two PFD's short of the # of pax onboard - he had assured me that throwable devices were in compliance (he paid the $50 fine).<br /><br />Interesting thing about Texas law, guess it's the same everywhere - you must have a wearable PFD for everyone aboard, but adults aren't required to wear them; throwable PFD's aren't good enough. If you fall in, someone will have to throw you your wearable PFD, which you will then have to hang onto until you get picked up. That or else wear yourself out trying to put it on while treading water. Assuming, of course, that you aren't too severly injured and do not lose consciousness.

 

[RRRKKK]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

kinda of ironic I had just ordered a new life vest from Cabellas and was reading this forum as I was getting boat ready for this year, a friend of mine who works for the emergency corp here on the Mississippi told me they have never recovered a body with a life vest on.

 

[Dan Beisel]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

jtexas-<br /><br />my story happened about nine months ago and it's a doosey! you're right, when I post it I'm sure it will provide some sort of healing to my otherwise bruised pride! look for it coming soon to a post near you!

 

[FSHKPR]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

nope never. dont like the tan lines it leaves

 

[Sailor_Vic]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Do quite a bit of offshore racing and though my crew is experienced.Night watch always must wear PFD as well as being hooked up to jacklines. I can't stress the importance of this. We were caught in a squall with a full main and the watch on duty asked for help in putting a reef in the main,m with the boat heeled at almost 30 Deg. Well I'd just woken up and either neglected or forgot to don either a PFD or harness to hook into the jackline. As i reached up to loosen the main halyard, a wave broke over the bow. The only thing that saved me was my crotch securely nestled around a lifeline stanchion.No purpose in describing the pain, but beats the heck out of going feet wet at night 600 miles from shore in a squall. You never know when it's your turn. Theres no macho antics on our boat anymore. So set an example for the younger crews. I'm not saying wear them 24/7 but consider the alternatives.

 

[Bradster941]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Hope to be " NOT " reading about you in the obits. FSHKPR

 

[jyasaki]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Good thread.<br /><br />I'm going to go against the grain here, and admit that I rarely wear a lifejacket on my boat.<br /><br />OTOH, I am a diver, and the boat is primarily a dive platform, so anytime I'm on the water, I've got either a 7 mil wetsuit or a (zipped up) drysuit. Though neither meets the USCG regulations for PFD's, they both float better than any PFD I've ever seen.<br /><br />On the very rare occasion when I'm on the water and not diving, I'll wear the PFD.<br /><br />jky