The inflatable must be worn to be counted.
I have manual inflatable PFD which means you have to pull a short cord to inflate it with the CO2 cartridge and it has a tube to blow it up manually if you have time. I got it to use when I fish alone out of my jon boat. I keep the regular PFD’s on the pontoon.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
In God We Trust
The kayakers have posted a very good article on this topic a while back, as they are much more likely to fall in - they are very prepared…Always wear your PFD if solo in cold water. What happens first when you are swimming is that your muscles will not respond to your brains directions in VERY short order, thus you will drown even before hypothermia sets in. Thus the great importance of wearing a PFD. Be safe… terrible tragedy…
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com | www.summervillesaltwateranglers.com
I fished alone yesterday afternoon and caught some decent ones. For the first time in ages, I kept my vest on the whole time. Hope you all will too, especially when fishing cold-water conditions alone. Let’s all be careful out there.
Xpress HB-22
175 Yammy Jammer
I had the unfortunate experience to fall out of my boat into 44 degree water during an MSC Tournament, about 3 years ago. I was lucky to have a “large” friend in the boat with me. He grabbed the hood of my parka immediately, and I told him to take me to the back of the boat. I put my feet in the cavitation plate and told him to trim the motor up. He let go of me to go the the center console to trim the motor. I immediately went under again. In the last words that I could muster for about the next 90 minutes, I got him to trim the motor up, from the motor and he pulled me into the boat. At this time I could no longer speak, and I used hand signals to get him to take me to one of my rental properties, which was about a mile away. When we got to the dock, I could not get out of the boat by myself. He drug me out of the boat and carried my to the nearest cottage. I was here and gone for a little while, but did get him to help undress me and sit me in a bath tub that we filled with lukewarm water. He got me cups of warm water to drink, while making some coffee. In about an hour, I could talk again.
I promise you that if I did not have another person in the boat, I would not have survived that day. I still fish alone on occasion, but never again without wearing an inflatable PFD. I would encourage you to forego the cost of a rod/reel combo, depthfinder, battery charger, or whatever, and buy a quality PFD, that you will wear. It is your best insurance and your best investment!
Rick K