Life Jackets saved us today

[ac777]

Thank God we decided to wear our life jackets today. Capsized the duck boat due to overloading it. Many lessons learned, Don't over load a duck boat, with 4 guys in a 12 foot john boat, and wear your life jackets. I'm not sure how well one of the guys would have faired had he not been wearing a life jacket. We did lose one gun, a benelli nova, but we saved the other 3. We met a nice guy who lived on shore helped us out immensely. It was an interesting morning, and we have a new respect for life jackets. I think I am now going to invest in an Arctic Armour suit, I was kinda on the fence about it, but this sure gave me a good reason to get it. So we had quite the experience, and want to remind you that you never know what is going to happen when you are on the water.

[BigGrassBass]

Sorry about the lost gun, but it could have been so much worse!

Glad everyone made it out alright.

[96trigger]

Wow, be thankful. I would go to church tomorrow morning. That could have been very, very bad.

[RumRiverRat]

Glad you are OK.

Many Lessons to be learned from the experience.

[jcpmn82]

We did lose one gun, a benelli nova

Find someone with dive gear quick!!!

[mmeyer]

Wow, it's amazing how we as duck hunters will go out in conditions (either man-made or weather) to go duck hunting that would never think about going fishing in. And this is in cold water and adverse weather conditions. I think we probably all have been in a bad situation because of that. Thanks God you were smart and wore your life jackets! Good for You!

[ac777]

Originally Posted By: ac777*

We did lose one gun, a benelli nova

Find someone with dive gear quick!!!

Ya we are working on that only problem is it might have fallen in 15 plus feet of water? But yes we are very thankful for our safety and I was planning on going to church tomorrow any ways.

Anyone got scuba gear?

[ZEEK1223]

did you have waders on?

[jeepguy]

go mark that spot with a gps and go out when the water gets hard and use an aqua view. those guns are fricken tough, it would probably still shoot. Were the other three guns in floating gun cases.

[ac777]

did you have waders on?

Ya, all four of us had chest waders on

[ac777]

go mark that spot with a gps and go out when the water gets hard and use an aqua view. those guns are fricken tough, it would probably still shoot. Were the other three guns in floating gun cases.

We know where it is pretty well, but I might go mark it. But ya we plan on doing some searching for it. It was a Benelli Nova, so I think with a good cleaning, it would be ok. One of the other 3 was in a floating case, I grabbed mine quickly out of instinct, and the guy that swam to shore grabbed his in the floating case, and some how the other one managed to have little bouyancy before it got waterlogged and he grabbed that one as well. I would say we turned out pretty well for what could have happened, and I think a floating case would be a good investment as well.

[dan z]

the nova will be fine you should look at mine! looks like a rusty ole fence post and it still shoots just fine

oh lord let them find the NOVA

glad your okay and good heads up for the guys in little boats wear life jackets that friggin water is friggin cold

[HNTNBUX]

I think it is time for another duck boat for four guys. I watched a very large single person sink a twelve foot boat one of the first times I brought my daughter with. It took me awhile to convince her to get in the boat after that.

I am glad you guys are ok I have been in a boat twice when it was sinking and that is a sickening feeling.

[Gordie]

Glad to hear you guys made out of the water safely. I know first hand what its like going in the water with chestwaders on and I had no life jacket on,I was hunting by myself and went out of a ten ft boat. The wiredest thing is when I got home I turned on the tube and that commercail came on with the dog swimming in circles and all you seen was the dogs feet and they were getting farther and farther away, Then in big bold letters it said please wear your life jacket!

now I do I got the hint and yes it was the hard way..

Again glad to here your safe

[CANOPY SAM]

Firstly, thank our Merciful Lord that you all made it out of that situation alive. Had one or more of you not made it what a terrible tragedy that would have been. Clearly a great example of how important safety flotation devices are whenever we're on the water. Another couple weeks later, with colder water, and the outcome may have been very different.

Secondly, there is typically a small metal tag on the inside transom of every boat clearly explaining the weight limits, and tolerances the boat is designed for. A 12-foot Jon Boat is not designed for 4 people. I'd guess the max. weight limit on that boat around 550 lbs. With all your gear you four guys were probably pushing 700-800 lbs. or more.

Please don't take this the wrong way. It's just a really good lesson for everyone out there hunting over water. Check the weight limit of your rig and don't push it. The weight of all that gear adds up fast.

Thanks for sharing, and again, Praise the Lord you're all okay. Perhaps your post will save other lives this year, and for years to come.

[ac777]

Firstly, thank our Merciful Lord that you all made it out of that situation alive. Had one or more of you not made it what a terrible tragedy that would have been. Clearly a great example of how important safety flotation devices are whenever we're on the water. Another couple weeks later, with colder water, and the outcome may have been very different.

Secondly, there is typically a small metal tag on the inside transom of every boat clearly explaining the weight limits, and tolerances the boat is designed for. A 12-foot Jon Boat is not designed for 4 people. I'd guess the max. weight limit on that boat around 550 lbs. With all your gear you four guys were probably pushing 700-800 lbs. or more.

Please don't take this the wrong way. It's just a really good lesson for everyone out there hunting over water. Check the weight limit of your rig and don't push it. The weight of all that gear adds up fast.

Thanks for sharing, and again, Praise the Lord you're all okay. Perhaps your post will save other lives this year, and for years to come.

Yes God sure had his angels watching over us today. I know we had the boat way overloaded, and the tag doesn't say how much it is rated for(Too Old) but hopefully others can learn from it, cause we sure did. We figure it was probably close to 1000 lbs with the motor and gas and everything. Thankfully the boat wasn't aluminum, cause that probably would have gone down. The boat is made of a plastic/Fiberglass material, and has a foam material between the walls so it is almost unsinkable, we've had it swamped before, but it did tip over so I'm glad it didn't go down.

[a47mlb]

While stationed in Duluth with the Coast Guard, you wouldn't believe how many overloaded boats we ran into up on the St. Louis River. Yes, mostly waterfowl hunters. We referred to them jokingly as "job security".

Glad you came out all right. Your story would be a great learning experience for you to share with the youth at firearms safety classes, Cub Scouts, boating classes, etc..

[nate larson]

Glad to hear you guys are okay!

I had a similar experience a few years back. We all had chest waders on and were not wearing our life jackets. I thought we all were goners...luckily we could just barely touch bottom. Ufda, that was a scary one.

[broken_line]

glad you are okay!!

[duckbuster]

Certainly no disrespect. In the end all lives were saved and everyone is OK today.

One observation though, COMMON SENSE is your best life jacket. From a far a few mistakes can be mentioned.

1) life jackets are a must every time, not just when you feel the urge.

2) 4 guys in a 12 foot john boat? 4 duckhunters and equipment in a 16 foot boat can be questionable.

3) Wearing hip boots in a boat when you are on water that will be deeper than you stand is a NO-NO

GOOD LUCK & BE SAFE the rest of the year!!!!

[a47mlb]

We all had chest waders on and were not wearing our life jackets. I thought we all were goners...luckily we could just barely touch bottom. Ufda, that was a scary one.

It is a myth that water-filled waders will sink you. It just won't happen. It makes it tough to get out of the water, but it won't sink you to the bottom. However, that doesn't mean you shouldn't wear a PFD anytime you're on the water.

[leech~~]

Originally Posted By: ac777*

We did lose one gun, a benelli nova

Find someone with dive gear quick!!!

Some of the cheap tool stores sell pretty strong Magnets that may pull her up on the end of a rope! I think about going overboard every time I have to take a Pee over the side, in my little layout boat! Good to hear you guys are safe!