rrhodes
Chief Petty Officer
- Joined
- Jun 24, 2008
- Messages
- 636
Guys, I keep reading posts looking for shortcuts such as can I operate a boat with wet foam, Exceeding the max rated HP. Taking on water should I be worried. So I want to give my opinion.
Forget the boat for a minute and let?s assume you are flying a plane. Would you fly a plane if you found a small crack in the wing? How about flying a plane while exceeding the maximum load rating? Attempting to fly across the Ocean when the actual range of the plane would only get you half way?
You may think that as long as you can see land you can swim back. You are wrong! Every weekend I read about people missing or found dead in lakes all over the country and most of these deaths could have been avoided. Simply owning a boat does not make you a boater. Take the time to attend safety classes even if your state does not require it. During your first few outings it is also a good idea to enlist the help of a seasoned boater if you know one to help you through the basics.
Boats are a lot of fun and it is more than a hobby for most. It is a life style. But you have to remember that they are dangerous. Treat your boat like a plane; it is the only thing keeping you alive while in the middle of the Ocean or a lake. Saving money is fine but not when the cost is safety. Remember that when you take people out on your boat their lives are in your hands. Below is a true event that happened 18 years ago.
My best friend was on a lake years ago camping on a sailboat overnight. During the night a storm blew up and took the boat under. All the life vests were in the cabin and they were unable to retrieve any of them. This lake was only about 3.5 miles wide and the closest shore was about a mile from them. One of the guys started to panic and almost drowned my best friend and he had to make the decision to swim for shore and leave him. They found his body 3 days later and my friend still has nightmares about that night even after 18 years.
Forget the boat for a minute and let?s assume you are flying a plane. Would you fly a plane if you found a small crack in the wing? How about flying a plane while exceeding the maximum load rating? Attempting to fly across the Ocean when the actual range of the plane would only get you half way?
You may think that as long as you can see land you can swim back. You are wrong! Every weekend I read about people missing or found dead in lakes all over the country and most of these deaths could have been avoided. Simply owning a boat does not make you a boater. Take the time to attend safety classes even if your state does not require it. During your first few outings it is also a good idea to enlist the help of a seasoned boater if you know one to help you through the basics.
Boats are a lot of fun and it is more than a hobby for most. It is a life style. But you have to remember that they are dangerous. Treat your boat like a plane; it is the only thing keeping you alive while in the middle of the Ocean or a lake. Saving money is fine but not when the cost is safety. Remember that when you take people out on your boat their lives are in your hands. Below is a true event that happened 18 years ago.
My best friend was on a lake years ago camping on a sailboat overnight. During the night a storm blew up and took the boat under. All the life vests were in the cabin and they were unable to retrieve any of them. This lake was only about 3.5 miles wide and the closest shore was about a mile from them. One of the guys started to panic and almost drowned my best friend and he had to make the decision to swim for shore and leave him. They found his body 3 days later and my friend still has nightmares about that night even after 18 years.
