Life jacket or not

[BillP]

The recent drowning on Lake Lida has everyone back on the "wear your life jacket kick". I am not one to take unreasonable chances and I know that life jackets can be much more comfortable than they once were but I have to object when the words "everybody and all the time" become part of the statement.

If you don't swim well, wear one always! When conditions arn't good, sure put it on! Just being able to swim may not be enough. How comfortble are you about jumping or falling off the boat? Is there a danger of the boat drifting away? Can you get back abord (have you tried)?

Do I wear a life jacket? Yes, but not all the time.

[hanson]

You missed one very key point Bill.

What happens if you happen to crack your 'noggin while falling out of the boat? It doesn't matter how good of a swimmer you are if you are unconcious.

I have recently gotten in the habit of wearing a PFD while on the water. I've been fishing a lot of rivers lately and the thought of falling overboard in the river doesn't sound very pleasant. Dams, locks, barges, debris, logjams, and of course the current are all dangerous elements. Add the darkness of night into the equation and there isn't much room for error.

There is a post going in the Lake of the Woods forum about this same topic. There is a statistic about the number of drowning victims who have their fly down when they are recovered. Hmmmm... Who ever thinks they are going to fall in when they are going to the bathroom over the side of a boat.

They are also good for wiping fish slime on.

[Valv]

Just read this article, it will answer your statement.

http://www.fishingminnesota.com/forum/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=572216&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

And the people that died knew how to swim very well.....

[DTro]

Hanson, was that from Fri? You guys put on a few miles and that jacket was a good idea. I hit two submerged logs (in the daylight) that neither of us saw. Gave us a pretty good jolt. After that we tied up to a snag for the night .

[hanson]

dtro-

That fish was from last Friday on the Mississippi. I got the skunkeroo again for league night. Hoops connected with a couple nice channels- 31" & 32". Your right about the miles & the jacket was on the entire time. I saw the lights of Valley Fair before we turned around to come back when the sun was rising.

Oh yeah, we 'bumped' a few logs too.

[Surface Tension]

Wearing a life jacket kewl.

[DougSpringBay]

As a husband, father, fishing guide, and fisherman:

When the boat is underway by power of the outboard motor:

LIFE JACKETS ON SNAPPED AND ZIPPED-- NO EXCEPTIONS.

AND FOR ME- KILL SWITCH ATTACHED.

I also would not travel in a boat where the operator refused to attach the kill switch. Not only is drowning an issue, but being struck by an out of control boat and or prop can be just as deadly.

Doug

[leechlake]

I've really started wearing one, it seems many of the recent tragedies are happening when the boat just drifts away. We all think it's going to happen in November in rough water, but when you're trolling 1mph on a ninety degree day and you fall overboard you won't be able to catch the boat, wear it the more you're on the water the higher it's chances of saving your life and keeping your loved ones from the terrible tragedy also.

[MJBo]

I always wear my life jacket when I'm around water... And a helmet when I'm around hard objects!

[Surface Tension]

Doug, good point on the tether. I started using mine when I took the kids out. I'm now in the habit of allways using it whenever I'm running down the lake.

[Northlander]

More and more I hear of people who died but would have probably lived if they had a life vest on. I wera mine mostly when under power but find myself slapping it on more often when it gets tuogh out. The taking a leak and falling out of the boat is why I bought a urinal from M.G. No hangin over the boat in waves.

The tether switch is always locked onto my lifevest when running from spot to spot. Especially when it rough out.

Theres no excuse not to wear it. At least none that your family would accept if something should happen to ya.

So I guess I say wera them vests!

[Aquaman01]

While wading it's a good idea, too.

Yesterday I was wading a sandy island on the Missy, casting out over the drop-off. I went downriver to the island tail-out and in one step went from firm sand in warm knee-deep water to knee-deep muck in colder belly-high water. I stepped in a spring. I was stuck fast, too. It took a few minutes to get out. If I was in belly-deep water to begin with - I'd be a dead guy with a panama hat sticking out of the water.

[BillP]

Lets see: Life jacket, Helmet, Sunscreen, Off (that Nile thing you know), Safety toe shoes, Purell (for my hands), Safety glasses, Ear muffs (outboard may be too loud), Asprin (in case of hart attack), Burbon (in case of snake bite) YUP ready to go

[danfall]

30 bucks, not for life insurance, but death prevention

1/2 the time in MN/Canada, they help you stay warm, too

a friend drowned while fishing at anchor after being struck by another boat, a great swimmer, coroner said banged his head, likely on gunnel of his boat, fell overboard and sank to the bottom in 19', crasher said friend was standing in boat at impact and never saw it coming, police ruled it an accident based on fog, a lifejacket would have saved him as the bump on the head was minor contusion and cause of death was drowning, it was ruled as a preventable drowning, the family had little recourse against the crasher, not that it matters

wear it almost always

pretty rare I take mine off

[Slim Pickens]

deffinately pro life jacket. 1, it sets a good example for the kids.2, I fish leech and it can get rough. 3, I don't trust others. If you opperate your boat the way you drive your car stay off the water!!!

[SteveWilson]

I always wear a life jacket on a boat and always wore a helmet when riding motorcycles. I'm a very good swimmer but that's meaningless if you hit your head and then fall in. I do like the Sospenders though, light weight, small and compact, you hardly notice your wearing it.

[porterhouse]

I'm always wearing my lifejacket. Why risk it !!!!!

Brian