Yeah, I was thinking if it was wrong to do a full thread on it.
I look at this thread as a safety reminder. Obviously, you and many on here know the importance of proper safety measures, especially wearing a life vest.
Hopefully, anyone reading this who might neglect things like wearing a vest, will decide to put on one.
Spending time on and around the water can turn deadly in an instant, as many of us know.
For example, I was just explaining to my kids the other day how to handle the situation if they slipped and fell in a river we were hiking near. Better to be prepared, than panic.
If one person decides to put on a vest because of this thread, I think it's worth it.
Hopefully there won't be many additions, if at all, to this thread this year.
CAPT. HOOP
Member
Registered: 11/02/02
Posts: 7540
Loc: Empire / Venice, La
As many of you know I am on the water more than most on this site. When I fish alone I wear my inflatable PFD and usually attach my kill switch.
If you have an inflatable PFD the cylinder should be replaced every 3 years. I last went to replace all mine and found one had leaked making it only a manual inflation device. I strongly suggest checking or replacing yours each season or every 2 years. The time and money spent could be your life.
Fishing is not a matter of life or death. It's more important than that.
Sweetchuck
Member
Registered: 01/04/07
Posts: 2311
Loc: Stafford Springs, CT
Just did mine this year, and as another precaution since I will be in a kayak I have added a replacement cylinder and arming pin in my safety kit in kayak.
Hopefully the first post will be the last on this thread.
JohnS
Life Time Member
Registered: 01/19/02
Posts: 12678
Loc: Wallingford/Florida
My wife and nephew flipped the kayak yesterday thankfully no one got hurt and had their PDFs on. I had to drag my wife back to shore. All it took was a second for it to flip.
mattmann7
Member
Registered: 08/25/06
Posts: 3844
Loc: wethersfield ct
I will add my 2 cents. I have awaken on the bottom of a lake after blacking out from heat exhaustion and rolling my canoe in 100 degree heat. That was 22 years ago. Luckily I was in 3 feet of water. I had no life jacket on and had I been in deeper water would not have survived.
The memories of the day have made me extra cautious when I fish alone. This week I ordered a boarding ladder after having multiple slips or trips in the boat this year that have caused me to lose my balance. Things happen fast on the water and it doesn't take much to fall out of a boat on a windy day or when being rolled by boat wakes. I have been in boats on more than one occasion where someone has lost their balance and fallen in. I have also seen how difficult it is to pull someone in who is fatigued and out weighs you. I fish alone more than half my trips and if I fall in on my own I will now have a ladder to get back in the boat.
tommy
Member
Registered: 04/23/05
Posts: 5024
Loc: Danbury
I have a friend that fell out of his Bass boat, he had to stand on the lower unit and use the trim switch to lift him up so he could climb back in his boat. Just a tip I hope nobody ever needs to use.
Don P
Member
Registered: 05/03/07
Posts: 19058
Loc: CLINTON, CT
Originally Posted By: tommy
I have a friend that fell out of his Bass boat, he had to stand on the lower unit and use the trim switch to lift him up so he could climb back in his boat. Just a tip I hope nobody ever needs to use.
Good thinking by your friend! Glad he got back aboard ok. Did he say his he fell out? S#it happens FAST!
The very FIRST trip I took in my new Hobie Revolution kayak with pedal Mirage Drive a couple weeks ago in Long Island Sound I had to help a Mom & Son get back to shore. They were a 1/2 mile off the beach after capsizing their 2 person sit in kayak. It was completely filled and they were trying to swim it back to shore. Neither of them had a lifejacket on or even aboard! The son was not a strong swimmer, rain and lightning were approaching, tide was moving, and dusk was falling. It was not good. We all got caught in the rain and lightning as I towed them and their kayak back to shore with my Hobie pedal drive.
scooter72
Member
Registered: 07/12/05
Posts: 4862
Loc: Windham,CT
Just heard that the lady who was involved in a hit-run boating accident at Candlewood the other day has died.
You can say anything foolish to a dog, and that dog will still give you a look that says, "WOW!! What a great idea!! I never would have thought of that!!"
Some people are born on third base, then spend the rest of their lives thinking they hit a triple.
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