You may have just changed my life (or what is left of it). I'm 70 and feel safe without my preserver and I now understand how important it is. Thanks for sharing.
I am 75 years old and grew up around the water in Rhode Island. I learned to swim when I was 4 or 5 years old. I was in the Coast Guard. I have no fear of the water and have nothing but confidence in my abilities on and in the water. Just five days ago I was crappie fishing from my boat on the Alabama River at Millbrook, Alabama where I have been hundreds of times. I was in the middle front seat of my boat and leaned to my right to get a minnow from the bucket. No more than one second later I was under the water as the base plate for the seat that is secured to the deck with six screws, just pulled completely off the deck. Seriously, no more than one second. I did not feel any panic, my thought was; well, I’m in the water just swim up and get to the boat. But as I started to swim up I realized I was still going down! My wet clothes were weighing me down. I redoubled my efforts to get to the top. I was making progress; however, remember I said it took about one second to fall into the river? Well that meant I did not have any time to take a good deep breath before going under. As I looked up I began to wonder if I had enough air to make it. Now my chest is beginning to tighten and my brain is telling me I need to breathe and I need to do it right now. It would have been so easy to do that. Even as I write this I recall how easy it would have been to take in a big lungful of water. Obviously I held my breath and made it to the surface. So, to THE MAIN POINT FOR WRITING THIS. DO NOT BE LIKE ME. WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DO SO. DO NOT FOR ONE SECOND THINK YOU WILL HAVE TIME TO PUT YOUR JACKET ON. I CERTAINLY DID NOT HAVE ANY TIME TO DO SO, AND THERE SAT MY JACKET ON THE DECK, NEAR MY FEET AS I FELL INTO THE RIVER.
GET THE NET HAROLD, GET THE NET!!Redge, ShowmeCrappie, Cubeice, Hookedonslabs, STUMP HUNTER, strmwalker, elkhunter, Dollfly, BigDawgg, skeetbum and 5 others LIKED above post
You may have just changed my life (or what is left of it). I'm 70 and feel safe without my preserver and I now understand how important it is. Thanks for sharing.
skeetbum LIKED above postShowmeCrappie, shortdraw thanked you for this post
That's plain enough...they are made to wear
Glad this had a happy ending. I have always been one who had the life jacket as a requirement if I was checked. Seriously, it is stowed so deep it would take forever to get it out and on. Two weeks ago I decided this was insane! I can have an accident just as easily as anyone. We bought the auto / manual vests, and in the two trips since, we put them on at the ramp. Both trips, I have noticed mine as I was driving the truck away. They are that comfortable! Thanks for the reminder of how life can change in a second.
HillBilly LIKED above post
Thank you for sharing a very important story and lesson. ALWAYS wear your PFD! No matter how good one thinks they are, a split second accident can happen to anyone, anytime. Glad you are okay.
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Fishing is a privilege...catching is a bonus. Enjoy each precious moment we have to experience our great outdoors!
I second the auto inflate jackets they are so comfortable I hardly notice I have one on.
I use auto inflate, it goes on when the boat hits the water and doesn't come off until the boat is on the trailer
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Wow, glad you are okay and thanks for sharing your story.
I am gonna be honest, that scenario has never crossed my mind and probably never would have had I not read your post.
I always wear my jacket while the boat is in motion but take it off when I start fishing or USED TO......
I have a couple Cabelas gift cards and I think I now know how they are gonna be used, sounds like the inflatable life vest would be a fine purchase.
Thank you again.
So glad you made it! I will definently be wearing mine in the future
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Glad your still with us!! I like you have always been comfortable on/in the water. Since I fish by myself a lot, I got to thinking what if I hit my head on the way in.
I wear my self inflating life jacket all the time, while in the boat.
Proud Member of Team Geezer!Davedirt LIKED above post