Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

[OutANoWhere]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

i was on the river friday (new years eve) my 16 year old and 6 year old sons and me, pulled up to the dock gave instructions to both boys that they hear everytime while i went for the truck the 6 year old in "pfd" was to remain seated on the console. i backed the trailer down shut the truck down locked the brake got out just in time to see another flats boat *roar* in, bump the dock and lo and behold about a 6 year old boy jumped off the boat leading a 4 year old by the hand ( no pfd's ) as the father crushed a beer can and tied the boat up....ummmm..... thank you God for giving me the common sence i never take for granted

 

[what66]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

I don't let anyone on my boat without a pfd.<br />swiming well not help you if you get knocked out.:0

 

[baileys]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

i think its good news that people are thinking safe i myself got my first boat last year and wouldnt go out without safty equipment which cost me afare thew quid or dollars to u people over there when eventualy we set out my nephew wouldnt wear his jacket but soon got used to it but still took 4or 5 times to follow instructions we learnt by our mistakes though because when we got back the car broke down and we left him and afreind holding the boat one on it one off it as we turned around the boat was floating away he got on the boat to see what the other one was doing we shouted start the engine which they did and they came back in these kids are only 12 n13 but because we showed them the works they new what to do but it could have been worse so be warned always show even kids how things work and always leave an adult with the kids he was severly repremand for getting on the boat by his dad and was very sorry now all he wants to do is drive the boat he cant wait to start again this year but we are getting the spare outboard fixxed first as advised

 

[baileys]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

i think its good news that people are thinking safe i myself got my first boat last year and wouldnt go out without safty equipment which cost me afare thew quid or dollars to u people over there when eventualy we set out my nephew wouldnt wear his jacket but soon got used to it but still took 4or 5 times to follow instructions we learnt by our mistakes though because when we got back the car broke down and we left him and afreind holding the boat one on it one off it as we turned around the boat was floating away he got on the boat to see what the other one was doing we shouted start the engine which they did and they came back in these kids are only 12 n13 but because we showed them the works they new what to do but it could have been worse so be warned always show even kids how things work and always leave an adult with the kids he was severly repremand for getting on the boat by his dad and was very sorry now all he wants to do is drive the boat he cant wait to start again this year but we are getting the spare outboard fixxed first as advised

 

[Harry_Pluta]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

It has been some 20 years since we had our last "real" boat. Back then kids had to wear a PFD and there was a donut on each side of the boat with a teathered line attached. We have been kayaking for the last many year and have become accustomed to always wearing a good vest. Having flipped more then once it is nice to know I have a backup when my rolls are not working. I am unsure of my position when we buy the 'new' boat, kids no question, adults on calm water I am not sure. Funny how all the boat advertisements show the gal in the bikini with no PFD in sight!

 

[teds1]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

i too make the family wear jackets... and yes they put them on the dock also... often they complain its too hot.. but they still must wear them... they are only little 9 and 4... i always play it safe...<br />dont worry about the others... you are not a freak... just carefull and nothing wrong with that...

 

[rayjay]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

The fellow in the slip across from me was zipping about in his twin engined Seadoo sportster with 2 friends on board. They hit a wave wrong and 2 of them got pitched out. None were wearing PFD's. The owner/driver was knocked unconscious. Fortunately some other boaters were johnny on the spot and saved his life. The passengers were just banged up. <br /><br />Even before this incident I started wearing mine at all times when underway in the bass boat. Usually I just leave it on. There have been way too many fatal accidents in the last 6 months here in GA where real pfd's would have saved the life [ I don't consider manual inflatables 'real' pfd's]. <br /><br />Several deaths have happened recently at night. Maybe it's time for more prominent running lights. On Lanier there are a lot of lakeside lights on at night and the reflections off the water makes it very confusing to tell a dock/porch/sidewalk light from an anchor light.

 

[craze1cars]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

Originally posted by rayjay:<br /> <br /><br />Several deaths have happened recently at night. Maybe it's time for more prominent running lights. On Lanier there are a lot of lakeside lights on at night and the reflections off the water makes it very confusing to tell a dock/porch/sidewalk light from an anchor light.

Isn't the general rule for nighttime boating supposed to be no wake? Floating debris isn't normally very well lit regardless of any regulations...and if anyone is running at nighttime speeds such that they can't identify an anchor light from a reflection on the water? Soundds like another form of Darwinism, I guess. Unfortunately the anchor lighted boat is the one carrying the innocent victims...

 

[rayjay]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

I have not been able to find a reg for GA lakes that specifies a nighttime speed limit. Idle speed would be a bit severe on a big lake. I have heard some bass boats really hauling tail at night which I think is pretty dumb. Just above minimum planeing speed would be about right for safe nighttime travel.

 

[swist]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

Just above minimum planeing speed would be about right for safe nighttime travel.

About right where? Unless the moon is out or you are near an urban area with a lot of ambient light, it is virtually impossible to see small objects in the water at night. Even radar won't pick up floating logs big enough to wipe you out. I wouldn't go faster than 7-8 kt.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

Safe speed is (in my opinion) slow enough to stop in good time should there be an object in/under the water that could damage your boat/cause a hazard. For that reason I won't travel above 6 knots at night.

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

Vests are a must for my family too.

 

[JohnRuff]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

My wife hates to wear hers -- she says that all the lead in it makes it difficult for her to move about in the boat. I tell her that it's the law and she has to wear it!<br /><br /><Evil Grin>

 

[skeeterboy]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

i wear mine all the time when im in the basser boat. The federation makes you wear them during the tournies. Dont really mind wearing it either.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

John, John, John....

 

[89cruisers]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

On our boat no one does because it has high sides so you would have to jump to be able to fall off, but theyre allways easily accessible if theyre needed or when going to the front to lower the anchor and everyone has to wear them if the weather turns bad, but with my last smaller boat (19' cuddy) everyone had to keep them on.

 

[Braxton]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

we wear ours while underway always. makes me and my wife feel alot safer. don't worry about the stares. if anything ever happens they will wish they had theres on.

 

[oldfordcrap]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

i make my 16 year old son put one on at the dock

 

[veritas honus]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

Everyone on my boat wears a vest while under way. When anchored, adult, strong swimmers don't have too. My children, (3 & 7) wear theirs at all times on the water.

You are not alone. Safety 1st...

 

[98Shabah]

Re: Am I the only one who makes my family wear life vests?

My wife and I don't wear them. Our 10 year old wears hers if she is going to sit in the bow, but other than that we don't make her wear it. Our youngest (4) of course wears hers at all times on the boat. At the beach neither kid wears them, but my wife and I are either with the kids in the water or sitting at the water's edge watching them. We're all like fish in my family and we're all very comfortable in the water.