Posted by: Don P
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/12/21 09:36 AM
What a shame.
WEAR those life jackets as required by law in these cold water months...and always in small boats like kayaks and canoes (at least).
Posted by: DeadBird
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/12/21 09:40 AM
What a shame.
WEAR those life jackets as required by law in these cold water months...and always in small boats like kayaks and canoes (at least).
Right on there. I'm not much for the nanny state crap, but it's arguably attempted suicide to not wear one in a canoe or kayak this time of year.
Posted by: whaler150dan
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/12/21 10:27 AM
Let's hope this is a short thread this year.
Posted by: kayak fisher
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/12/21 10:38 AM
Another disturbing fact I just read is that 2 out of 3 drowning victims are considered good swimmers. And unless you're in pretty good shape, don't think you can just hop back on a sit on top, it's not that easy. Kayaks tend to flip if not done right. If you've never tried it, watch some youtube reentry videos, and practice when the water warms.
Posted by: Don P
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/12/21 10:46 AM
COLD weather cramps up even the best swimmers....in addition to trying to get back into a flipped over kayak which is difficult.
Many years ago my cousin and I drove to Ft. Weatherall in Jamestown, RI and launched my 2-person sit in kayak. We went outside the cove and out into open water. A disrespectful offshore battle wagon steamed close to us and his wake totally flooded the sit in kayak (of course he just kept on going without a care). We had to swim the water filled kayak to a small outcropping of rock, climb up on the rock, and spill all the water out of the kayak and continued our kayaking.
Posted by: whaler150dan
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/12/21 11:45 PM
Any water temp below 50 degrees can shock your systems so that you do not even know how to breath NEVERMIND find which way is up. Especially if you are not expecting it, and anyone out in a kayak, canoe etc. in those conditions without a PFD is obviously not expecting it. Just the opposite in fact.
I morbidly wonder at what point, if any, does one realize they Fd up. I don’t ever want to know the answer to that. Sharks or no sharks Quint, I’m a wearing the damn PFD.
https://www.boaterexam.com/blog/2010/05/cold-water-immersion.aspx
Posted by: O-BASS
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/13/21 06:59 AM
Love it dan!
Those not familiar with long meadow should know there isn't much water deeper than 3 feet. Exceptionally shallow and weedy.
If my kids are going to be near water fishing they have a life jacket on, and most of our excursions are on the shore not in my boat. I definitely got a couple of looks from other people once.... stare all you want.
Float plan, vests, even a spare truck and boat key for my fishing partner on multi day trips.
Posted by: Buck
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/13/21 09:06 AM
My grandkids wore life jackets in the backyard due to the pond back there. You can never be too safe.
Posted by: ChunkDunker
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/13/21 09:42 AM
Kayaker went into the drink of Norwalk this past week. Was lucky cling onto their partners yak until help arrived. Glad it was a positive ending. I was at the beach on Saturday, I don't even want to stick my hand in the water, never mind getting submerged.
CD
Posted by: Don P
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/13/21 09:47 AM
I went swimming and on the waverunner (dunked that too) in LIS off Westbrook & Clinton about 3 weeks ago in 37*F water. I found them both refreshing.
Posted by: Crazy Ivan
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/13/21 02:25 PM
I go there all the time. I cant take the dogs to Harrybrook park since they don't allow dogs. Bunch of stoned or drunk kids jumping off the bridge.
Like what I did at their age in Newtown.
(Don Says I post too much personal information) I do but I cant help it. Polish/Hungarian/Dummy
Posted by: Don P
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/13/21 07:32 PM
Posted by: Crazy Ivan
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/13/21 07:40 PM
I don't keep an extra key under my matt and I have professional security system. And not the dogs.
I have locked myself out of the house and call the professional dog service to come open the door. Did that twice in 5 years
Slow the drinking Don!!!!!!!
Just say no!
Posted by: Don P
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 04/13/21 09:47 PM
I’m at an all-inclusive,....NO WAY I’m slowing down the drinking!
Posted by: JMike
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 06/08/21 10:07 PM
On a related matter this past week 2 cops, in separate states (not CT) drowned while attempting to rescue swimmers in trouble. In one case the distressed swimmer also died. Besides saving ourselves, most of us, especially with boats, live by the mariners rules of always going to the aid of someone in trouble on the water. But everyone needs to know their limits before jumping. A big heart and bigger b*lls won't trump going under if you don't know what you're doing. In confined space rescues (trenches, pits, silos, etc.) over half the fatalities are would-be rescuers. I believe the stats are similar regarding water rescues.
Years ago I was fishing with 2 friends in their 19 ft. boat on a rough day at the Race. The boat got swamped and in seconds turned vertical with just the tip of the bow showing above water. The PFDs were safely stored under the seats. Lucky for us it was October blue fish time and a couple other larger boats saw the mishap and immediately came to our rescue, followed by the USCG. Lost all my gear but felt like the luckiest guy around that day.
With the inflatable PFDs today there isn't much reason not to wear one. The ocean looks really big at eye level and any thoughts of macho are quickly dispelled.
Posted by: Iuse2fish
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 07/16/21 02:04 PM
That's horrible. I hope they find them alive.
Posted by: O-BASS
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 07/17/21 12:06 AM
All small rivers, including the Housatonic and its northern stretches are out of wading or canoe/kayak range, and unsafe. Tonight's monsoon won't help.
Very sad.
Posted by: Iuse2fish
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 07/20/21 02:06 PM
That's horrible. The poor families.
Posted by: BillShu
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 09/21/21 08:59 PM
I was just reading over some of the posts concerning Fishing/Boating fatalities.. Here's my story and happily NOT Fatal. On may 7th 3 years ago, I had my right knee replaced. After about 45v days of Re-hab PT, I decided to take my kayak out to Bolton lake just to see how new knee and kayak would Get along. So, early on a beautiful Sunday morning, launched the boat, no fishing gear along. Everything seeming great, was about 80-100yards out into the lake when in an instant kayak capsized and I was underwater. As I surfaced and looked around, determined that the area I just left was closest shore. I could not right that boat.. Took hold of that upside down bow and started towing it toward shore, not making very good headway, I reached the shore and some large rocks on to which I pulled myself to catch my breath...About the time I got into sitting position I felt a hand on my left shoulder another under my right arm and a voice saying " LIFT HIM UP INTO THE CHAIR". Well those two, A man and a woman were tugging Me toward the folding Chair that was set up there. Another man wes trying to put a Blood Pressure band around my arm, another an oxygen sensor on my finger and another with a clipboard asking me "Which hospital I wanted to go to?". Man, all of this is happening so quickly, I stood up and yelled " GET AWAYB FROM ME!!". AS it turns out, A homeowner at the lake apparently thought I eas on trouble and called 911, All those people were volunteer rescue squad personnel. Anyway, they had lifted the kayak out of the water, As I carried it to my vehicle, here Comes a huge Firetruck towing a trailer and rescue boat.. Boy what a bunch of disappointed people, they thought they were going to get credit for a water rescue. Anyway, when I got home and told my wife of the incident.... (I had to tell her in order to explain the loss of my eyeglasses).. SHE WAS PISSED!! Made me promise to get rid of kayak. WHICH I DID. However, to this day i cannot figure what caused that kayak to upset, over the years it has been in some hairy situations of wind/current/waves etc etc and never close to upsetting. I guess the moral of this storyn is: I learned that getting into kayak with new knee worked fine.... Never learned about getting out.
Posted by: Don P
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 09/22/21 08:49 PM
Wow! That’s scary. Glad you made it.
“…GET AWAY FROM ME!!!….”
Posted by: Conrad G.
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 10/27/21 06:42 AM
Who goes kayaking at 9pm as a nor'easter is getting under way
Prayers to the family...
Posted by: Mitch P.
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 10/27/21 08:07 AM
Yeah, very sketchy. Almost looks like a suicide. Lots of details missing in the initial reporting of this.
Posted by: ChunkDunker
Re: 2021 fishing and boating fatalities thread - 10/27/21 02:49 PM
Very sad. I do agree, something does not add up
Thoughts and prayers for the family
