These posts are bringing back 17+ year old memories! I now remember that was a discussion we had - to car seat or not. We also decided not to car seat so if there was a problem the baby would at least float free in the heads up PFD. <br /><br />Reminds me of my Lab when he was a wee pup (3 months?). We took him on a weekend canoe trip, and on the way back put him in a little travel kennel to keep him from jumping overboard (nasty, swift, deep, cold river). Halfway home, I switched boats to paddle a C2. (Mine's a big Tripper and I'd never paddled a "sporty" boat). Anyway, the person who was then piloting my canoe, with my wife, young daughter and pup in kennel, along with all of our gear, mishandled the landing by missing an eddy and barging into the shoreline straight on - and the boat flipped. I had landed in the eddy a momement before and saw this thing happening before it did - so I ran to the boat virtually as it flipped and grabbed my daughter (in PFD) before she was swept away. All the gear was tied in, and the adults just stood up, walked out and held the boat. Got the kid onto the shore and was catching my breath when I remembered the dog - who was now just entering the current trapped in the little kennel, 99% submerged. Managed to grab the kennel and muscle it to shallow water and let the pup out. Kids are crying over the poor puppy. Like a good lab, he shook off, smiled at us and jumped back into the water! I've sinced trained the dog to stay put so he doesn't have to be kenneled or tied and he too will float free if the boat goes over. Generally works fine unless we get in close proximity to a beaver - he'll "leave" ducks and shore critters, but just can't stand a swimming beaver. When we're in the power boat, I sometimes tether or kennel him if he's wet because he gets everyone else wet too (he's a friendly dog!), but there is virtually no chance of that boat going over.
That doesn't sound safe to me. Typically when you need a PFD your boat is in distress, possibly flipped or SINKING or both. The last thing I'd want is my baby tied to the boat, which is tied to the anchor. I understand the fear of witnessing an ejected infant....but a tether sounds riskier.<br /><br />If the infant shouldn't be strapped in a car seat, then it certainly shouldn't be tied to a boat. Sure most boats float and have a net buoyancy when submerged, but that is assuming it is still somewhat intact.<br /><br />If you're thinking of tying the infant to something...I'd recommend tying off to waist of the nearest PDF equipped adult. At least that way the infant will remain close to a human at all times.
