A not so funny screw up...

[deputydawg]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Try to wear one all of the time. Mostly because I am a boater safety instructor and have to set a good example. I am an excelent swimmer, life guard training, can swim a mile easy until you throw in current, waves, clothing, stress, temperature and whatever else there may be out there. Not too far from here early this summer two men in a boat were jumping wakes in their boat, and both were thrown out by a big one. The boat kept going since it was at WOT. Both had to swim for shore which was close by. One survived one didn't. I think the driver survived but is facing criminal charges as he was also drunk.

 

[MarkAB]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

What an eye opener - never wear mine but I will make damn sure I do from now on.<br /><br />Great, Great thread.

 

[cbnoodles]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Wow! It's one thing to hear and read about these events in the news, but quite another to get them on a more personal basis like this.<br /><br />My two best ( read only) friends and I have had several near misses because we fish the Susquehanna River north of Harrisburg, PA. This is a fairly shallow but very rugged stretch of water and is a byatch to navigate in the 15' flat aluminum we use there (almost the only thing possible other than tubers, kayaks, and canoes).<br /><br />The same two friends almost bought the farm on the Juniata (a tributary to the Susquy) while fishing in March about 10 years ago. The one in the front of the boat (we like to call him Nureyev for his amazing grace and agility) tried to stand up in the bow of a 12' jon boat. DOH!<br /><br />The whole shootin match went over and they barely made it to shore. They found themselves on the wrong side of the river and lost almost all of their gear but were alive to tell the story.<br /><br />Oh, almost forgot the point there...they weren't wearing PFD's. Now we always do if the boat is under power or we are in even moderate chop. I'm tempted to wear it any time that Nureyev is in the boat with me!

 

[gas0lean]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

No one gets on my boat including myself without wearing a life jacket. 3 main rules with my boat, no alcohol, no smokes and no one on board who isn't wearing a life jacket. Better safe than sorry in my opinion.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Originally posted by gas0lean:<br /> no alcohol, no smokes

and I've heard that the Aussies were fun lovin

 

[MTFishGuy]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

That goes double when the water is cold. Its amazing how fast you can lose the ability to do anything to help yourself in cold water. I lost a good friend who capsized his fishing boat in Wyoming. Other boats nearby immediately responded. He told them to save his kids. In the time it took them to take his kids to shore and return (minutes), he had disappeared beneath the water. He had been hanging onto the side of his boat, but the cold water took away his ability to even hang onto his boat and tread water. This was a young, vital man (I couldn't keep up with him elk hunting in the mountains). A good PFD would have given his kids a father for Xmas. Don't scrimp on life jackets. My advice, spend tell it hurts and always wear a PFD. A PFD in a storage area, doesn't do you any good in an emergency. In cold water, you will quickly find yourself unable to save yourself.

 

[MTFishGuy]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

An addendum to my earlier post. This happened on a warm late spring day, beautiful sunny day. It's not the air temp, but the water temp that get's you. <br /><br />We see this every year on the BigHorn river next door. Its a tail water river flowing from the bottom of the Yellowtail Reservoir. Even on a hot day (80+ degrees), people are getting hypothermia from wading in the river. <br /><br />Be extra careful in cold water.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

I've invested in 2 co2 lifejackets-there's a UK site selling them for £26 each. I hate the old style bulky ones- these don't get in the way at all. Best buy I've made this year and at that price there's no excuse not to wear one.

 

[Tinkerer]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

It'll be law here (my state, Victoria) from 1 July 05 that everybody in boats under 4.8 metre (about 16 foot) wears one while they're aboard. Surprising amount of opposition to it, probably from the people the law is directed at who think they're Superman.

 

[matthew hardman]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

the kids that ride on my boat always have one on the adults dont always where one i do if i am by myself and anyone that tubes or skies behind my boat does have to wear one if not the boat dont move

 

[davemaxi1970]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Good subject .Last month on Loch Lomond Scotland <br />Dad + 2 Kids on Fancy 21ft R.I.B. 200hp etc cost £20-25K reckon he was hit by someones wash Kid falls in Dad jumps in other kid jumps in to help only one survives.cost of life-jackets £20-£40 each.Went fishing Last week they were still looking for the bodies I for one will be wearing mine from now on!

 

[narcosis70]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Don't know if anybody has read this far down the post or not, but just in case...I'm a diver with about 300 dives, both in the ocean and Minnesota lakes. I can tread water, drownproof, and swim 500 yards if I have to. Yet, when I'm in my 20-foot Bayliner, I wear my PFD at ALL times, except when I'm changing clothes or dive gear. To enter 50-60-degree water fully clothed is a whole different ball game from when water entry is intended. As all divers probably know, heat leaves the human body 7 times faster in water than it does on land. Imagine what that will do to strength and endurance. BTW, while wetsuits will keep you afloat as good as any PFD, a drysuit without a BCD and air tank is a dangerous proposition in the event of a bad leak or seal failure.

 

[KennebecRiverGuide]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Always.<br /><br />The water up here is too cold.<br /><br />"Close" doesn't count when your over the side. <br /><br />Dead is forever.

 

[Twidget]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

My son invited a friend to go camping/boating with us a couple of weekends ago.<br /><br />His Dad and I spoke to let him know how I handled boating and passengers. He said he was sending his sons PFD and to make sure he wore it.<br /><br />I told him that my rule is that anyone entering the boat, adult or otherwise wears a PFD. He looked at me like I had two heads. He couldn't believe I would make adults wear PFDs also.<br /><br />Guess it takes all types.

 

[jtexas]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Under age 13 wear 'em. By myself, wear it whenever the motor is running. Otherwise, depends on conditions. Adults make your own decisions. Smooth open water no boat traffic, just keep 'em handy. At night wear 'em all the time. In high winds or cold weather, or anytime between Memorial Day and Labor Day on Lake Lewisville, wear 'em whenever the motor is running.<br /><br />Driver wears the emergency lanyard unless the driver is a kid in which case it's clipped to me.

 

[90skichallenger]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

Any1 who gets on my boat puts on a life jacket. I drive to bad not too.. <br />I usually wear mine depending on conditions, although I might not buckle it all the time. Anyone that enters the water wears one. This is with a boat that only hits freshwater in good weather.<br />"safety is no accident"

 

[magster65]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

On the 23 Sea Ray or 26 Tolly we usually cruise at only 7 or 8 knots so... rarely if at all but had them next to the seats not packed away.

 

[bryanttj]

Re: A not so funny screw up...

My kids always wear their's but didn't until I heard about two teenage girls getting knock out of their boat on a local lake, this weekend. One was severly injured and the other is still missing and presumed dead. They were not wearing a life vest. I will be wearing mine from now on.