Anyone ever fall out of a boat? (C'mon, one of you musta at one time or other)

[BuckeyeCrappie]

I wear mine when we are moving about on the lake and sometimes while fishing. The inflatable makes it easy to fish with it on so I leave it on a lot of the time. Good point Spoon and ALBuzz in the consideration of colder waters and lake size. I think I am a safe boater but on some lakes I go to around Central Ohio the boaters have either tunnel vision or just flat out don’t care. 2 years ago we missed getting run over by an oblivious boater in a big cabin cruiser flying past a ramp area in a no wake zone. 10 feet more and he would have run over us in our Tracker.

Thankfully this time of year the kids are back in school and the fair weather boaters and wake boats are getting winterized.

[zekepa]

I haven't taken a trip over the side and don't want to. I have both inflatable and regular life jacket on board, I should wear one more often. I like to sit in the boat, Have a 1860 mod V. The front deck sits about 8 inches below the side rails. It's not much but is enough that I'm comfortable sitting on the seat up there. Used to fish out of one of those 10 foot plastic poontoon style boats that you sat on top of the deck with my dad. I was never comfortable in that boat. Always felt like I was going over the side if I sneezed at the wrong time.

Pennsylvania passed a law a few years ago for lifejacket in the cold months

Follow the law: "a person shall wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD or life jacket) during the cold weather months (November 1st through April 30th) while underway or at anchor on boats less than 16 feet in length or any canoe or kayak."

[Slab Apprentice]

Yes, I have done it. Lol. Years ago pushing my jon boat off a dock I lost my footing and went halfway in. Managed to hang on but was embarrassed. Lots of people at the marina were laughing at me haha.


Sent from my iPhone using Crappie.com

[Gone Fishin']

I now wear an inflatable anytime I'm in the boat, stopped or running. I forget it's on. I'm a strong swimmer and quite comfortable in the water but you never know what the situation may be that puts you in need of that vest. Accidents can happen fast.

[Cane Pole]

I fell out the front of my boat a few years back while unlocking Terrova to stow. I now have Ulterras on both my boats.
I have built a lot of old folks convenient devices since that incident.

Sent from my SM-A526U1 using Crappie.com mobile app

[soonerdg]

I've flipped a small (12 foot) flat bottom boat more times than I care to admit. Mostly when i was younger. But i've never fallen out of a boat. Knock on wood! I have come close a few times.

[Yak Fish]

Hope I don't jinx myself, but I haven't fallen overboard yet.

Came across a sailboater clinging to the mast of his sunken sailboat in March during a bass tournament back in the early 1980s. Water temps were in the low 50s. We thought it was something that blew out of the boat ahead of us. In reality, the boat ahead of us saw him first, cut the throttle, and was turning back around to rescue him. They picked him up and radioed the coast guard patrol on the lake, who had the rescue squad waiting at the marina by the time they got there. The sailboater was suffering from hypothermia and was not wearing a life jacket. No telling how long he could have held on before the guys ahead of us fished him out. I've worn a life jacket ever since then.

Jim

[Snubby]

In MS if your in a boat 16 foot or under your required to have a life jacket on at all times. In a vessel larger than 16 foot only when under power of big motor. Sure couldn't hurt to wear one all the time especially when water temperature dips below 70 degrees. I keep a couple of towels and dry clothes in my boat during the cold months, plus a large pair of insulated coveralls. May not be a fashionable look being a size or two to big, but in the case of a submersion a body would sure like the warmth. I use standard life vest, I need to buy an inflatable for summer months.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[Spoonminnow]

Recently it was reported that a boat capsized as it was hit by a 10' wave returning to shore (N.J.) in rough surf. Two of three men were rescued holding on to a cooler, the third is still missing. Why would anyone not wear a lifevest in water affected by a hurricane (Lee)?!!

Wakes from dipsticks on a lake I fish in a small or large boat, have a habit of getting too close for compfort, sending wakes my way. For that reason alone, I'm going to wear a life vest next summer and also because the water temp. is going to drop sooner than later.
My vest needs a CO2 cartridge or it's useless.

[kwassing]

I basically got thrown out of my boat by the trolling motor. Long story short, I bought a 80lb 24v trolling motor for a 15 bass boat. The boat came with a 36lb trolling motor. First time I put the new motor on spot lock and shot off rapidly to the left and threw me right off the front