So here’s a true story I’d like to share to let everyone take a moment to consider what you would do if you fell from your boat. Last Summer a friend of mine was bringing the boat around to load it on the trailer while I was backing the truck down the ramp. One of the things that had to be done before loading the boat was empty the chum bucket. So she moved to the middle of the creek away from the ramp and just out of sight. When the bucket contents were tossed, her balance was lost and into the lake she went. Fortunately she had the forethought to knock the shifter out of gear so it was only idling- not really moving. Unfortunately, the boarding ladder was tied up earlier so it wouldn’t flop around going down the road, so my friend could not pull it down. Hanging on was all she could think to do. She was scared to climb up the motor because it was idling- even though that would have probably worked. After a few minutes, when I noticed she wasn’t coming around, I ran down the bank and saw an empty boat. I was in the process of pulling my shoes off when a couple of jet skiers saw the scene and untied the rope for her. It was a scary situation and left us thinking that it certainly could have turned out horribly different.
Now take a minute and decide how you would get back in your own boat if you were in the same predicament. Maybe practice that manuever this Summer to be sure it really works. Lastly, if your recovery method is via boarding/swim ladder, make sure you can lower it from the water.
Rick K fell in during the December tournament a year or two ago. He said the cold water sapped all of his strength and he couldn’t get into the boat. His partner helped him hold onto the motor and he trimmed it up and pulled him in. Ran straight home to get warmed up. I believe he would have one angler of the year or team of the year if he wouldn’t have fallen in and made the weigh in. Tripped on his gar beating club.
I read that story. Makes a valid point to wear a PFD- especially when it’s cold and/or you are fishing alone. Not that I do- but it sure makes a lot of sense to do it. I know a lot of pure fishing boats don’t have a swim ladder but I consider them mandatory- if nothing else when I decide to go for a swim on a hot day. But I’ve learned my lesson about tying it down!
One other thing to consider is more and more of us are using Autopilot trolling motors. They have no way of telling if you are on the boat or not. You could easily fall out and by the time you got your bearings straight the boat be gone! Maybe I really should start wearing my PFD…
A close friend of mine drowned last year. Thrown out of a boat while moving.
Really changed my view of safety on the water.
It is now mandatory that everyone on my boat wears life jacket while the boat is moving.
No more trying to look cool or be inconvenienced by wearing one.
In calm water we remove the jackets. Rough water or past the jetties we wear the jackets.
Very few days go by that I don’t think about my friend and his family that he left behind.
My largemouth tournaments require lifejackets to be worn anytime the boat is on plane. In winter with colder water I usually have mine on anytime I’m on the water. While fishing alone, a friend narrowly escaped from lake Monticello after slipping and falling overboard. He managed to get back in the boat by climbing up on the motor. It’s best to not fish alone when the water is cold. Hypothermia doesn’t take long and doesn’t play fair.