lifejackets!

[kpj5br]

Chev - Both the throwable and 1 PFD for each person on board need to be "readily accessible". The reason that term is open to somewhat wide interpretation is that it covers so many different types of watercraft.

For example, on one of the "dinner cruise" boats you see all the time on Minnetonka that seat 75 people, there are obviously not 75 PFDs lying all over the floor 'out of storage'. In that case, the PFDs are stored, but they are still considered readily accessible for the conditions, because the storage containers are well marked, easy to open, and in logical areas of the watercraft.

Next example, a Pontoon. On most modern pontoons, the PFDs are under the seat storage, and that is generally fine to leave them there as a rule (in the eyes of peace officers that is, the eyes of parents certainly can see a little differently).

Now, on a truly small watercraft, especially like small fishing boats (under 21 ft), sometimes a "stored" PFD is not going to be OK to a peace officer, especially, as I have seen, a PFD in a LOCKED storage, or more commonly, stuffed into a storage box too small so that one has to struggle and do a rubix cube to get the PFD out of the storage. Those are examples of NOT readily accessible.

Use your judgement, first and foremost, that PFD is there to save YOU, NOT to satisfy a peace officer. So keep that PFD in easy reach if you choose not to wear it.

My personal position is continuously moving towards #1.

I did have a somewhat close call under power moving pretty fast once on the Mississipi, no PFD on. A lot of "what-if"-ing goes through your head afterward...

Also some simple logistics. My boat is not that large (17.5 feet). It makes moving around the boat much easier if the PFD is on me, than if it is on the floor taking up floor space. Also (after incident above), I quickly went to the store and bought the most comfortable PFD I could find, and that helps a lot.

Last word: I have no problem at all with myself or anyone else on my boat leaving the PFD off when the boat is NOT under power, provided the individual can swim.

If you are an angler, and you cannot swin, I encourage you to learn how. Even with a PFD, you should know how to swim if you are on the water a lot, not necessarily for yourself, but if someone else is in need of help, you can only be of limited use if you are not comfortable in the water with the fishes...

[pikerliker]

This was a great post! It made me think about my 3 little ones. I take them fishing and always make them wear thiers but I've always been a have it in the boat and don't worry about it guy for myself. I am a good swimmer but what if I did bang my head while going in, or the water was too cold, etc. I think I'm going to be a 1 from now on.

~piker

[upnorth]

#3 and I am as bad as they get. I have my vests in the front storage compartment. I remember to take it out and put it on the back of my chair about 1 out of 5 trips out

Every year I tell myself that I need to wear it at least when I am under power and I really agree that I need to. But when it comes to actually doing it, I really fail to follow through.

There is a fine line between macho and plain old stupid. I guess I fall on the stupid side

[can it be luck?]

Call me stupid as well. I only remember once wearing a life jacket. I was fishing solo in a 16' boat on Lake Erie in 3-6' waves.
Other than that, 2',3',4',5',6',7',,8' waves........I'm without a life jacket jumping around my boat like a monkey!

PS: I hope monkeys are good swimmers!

------------------
http://groups.msn.com/canitbeluck

[Angler Don]

Hey gang, great topic !
From the July 9, Outdoor News. DNR boating safety specialist Tim Smalley tells us this ..

DNR statistics show that 80 percent of the victims of fatal boating accidents would have survived had they been wearing a life jacket. Most boating accident victims are males in their 30's with some swimming ability. Most boats are less than 16 feet in length with motors less than 40 horsepower or no motors at all.
" I think what surprises people about fatal boating accidents is they aren't high-speed collisions between big boats." Smalley said. " It's often a simple capsizing or fall overboard. It really shows how important life jackets are."

80 PERCENT !
Not much I can add to that.

Don