winter boat safety

[gooch]

With the water temps dropping and winter on the way thought I would share a tip that was passed on to me that could save a life.

From what I have read on this board it appears that most of us wear life jackets when fishing. I usualy dont in the summer but allways do in the fall and winter. The problem is that a life jacket is TOTALY useless in the winter if you dont have a means to get back into the boat after you fall out. If you cant get back in after falling out you would be better off to just drown instead of suffering thru hours of hypothermia.

A freind passed this tip on to me and I will do the same. What we do is find us a wore out ski rope. then rig it to the boat by whatever means you can (trolling motor bracket, boat cleat,ect). You want the rope to be just long enough so you can put your feet in the handle and use it to help you back into the boat. A peice of PVC on a rope with knots on both ends to keep the PVC from moving would work as well. The thing is it must be tied on and ready to use and not stored away in the rod locker. It doesent take a second to tie it on and you dont even need to keep it in the water. Just keep it where you could reach up and grab it if needed.

I fell in on a duck hunt years ago when I was in the top physical condition of my life. If it had not been for 2 of my college football teamates I could not have gotten back in the boat. I would guess that at least 90% of us are in the same boat as far as that is concerned. A 250 pound crappie man in dripping wet coveralls and clothing ends up weighing 400+ to the fishing partner who is trying to pull them back over the side.

Now once back in the boat your still gona die if you dont get warmed up and quick. What you do there is have a old blanket or comforter vaccume sealed in some plastic. Some cleaners offer this service. You can stash it away in the boat for the winter time trips. I also have a few of the foil blanket body warmer things to help with retaining some heat. And finally a 2 pack of Sterno heaters is a must. The whole survival pack of vacume sealed comforter, foil blanket and sterno heaters is about the size of a marine battery. It allong with the rope ladder cost less than 20 bucks and can save your life.

Bet you spent more than 20 bucks on that B&M pole and it cant save your life.

[labill]

Good advise, Gooch. The same can be done for a blanket if you have a vacuum sealer. A life jacket can save your life, but it doesn't do any good if it's locked up in the boat.....

[Barnacle Bill]

I seen on TV where (I think it was Glad) came out with a super size bag that may work for that purpose. They advertise them as big enough to hold a quilt so it may be worth looking into.

[horseshoer]

Gee Gooch, what a cheerful post for someone like me who is terrified of the water, does not swim/float/tread water and is coming into a jonboat this week the exact dimensions of a coffin. Did I mention I weigh 283 lbs. Unfortunately I am not joking
about any of that. That is a good topic this time of year, I have often wondered
about what getting back in would be like. Hope I never find out. Always have dry clothes and heat source with but always question if ya leave the boat is that stuff coming with you. A cell phone in a good zip-lock in the pocket of a life vest is some
comfort. Your post was good food for thought.

[smedley]

I had the pleasure of finding out last week just how hard it is to get back in the boat after "swimming". I stood up to tie up to the dock just as some boat wake came crashing it (which brings up another topic of launch and dock area courtesy). Some guy decided that he didn't care about the no wake zone buoys. If I wouldn't have been holding tight to the bow rope I would have gotten sucked under the dock. Now, I've never been under this particular dock so I don't know whats under there and don't really want to know. Anyway, after the initial shock of not being in the boat anymore, I reached up on the dock and tied the rope to the dock cleat. Then worked my way around to the stern and used the outboard as a ladder and climbed back in. Luckily the water was still in the mid 70's but the air temp was about 48. I got chilled immediately. I changed out of my wet clothes and into my rain suit for the trip home. I can swim ok and can tread water all day, but when you add 260 lbs a soaked t-shirt, sweatshirt, jeans, and hiking boots I could barely stay up without grabbing the boat. I did not have my life vest on since I fished my way up to this dock, but I do wear it when the outboard is running ALWAYS. Be careful out there.

[CatFan]

I have a fish&ski bassboat, so I have the ladder, but I have experienced first-hand how hard it is to get back in the boat. A ladder is a good investment if you have a place to mount one on the boat. A second option is to stand on the cav plate of your outboard and trim up, assuming the OB is big enough and you have a trim switch on the cowl. A third option is to reach in and run the TM from the water and drive the boat to shallow water.
My dad lost a friend who apparently fell in and wasn't able to get back in the boat one March 10 or 12 years ago while fishing alone. They found his boat the next day and started a search.
I hate my life jacket, but I wouldn't want my kids to lose their dad like that.

[ShilohRed]

I keep my life jacket on all the time.
Here is what I did when I fell in more then one time. If your motor had T/T put your foot in the plate on the foot. And tilt the motor up. It will push you back in the boat.
I always have extra clothes in the boat. And gortex rain gear. Teh rain gear will and can save your life if wet.
PEte

[Ranger375]

Good thoughts from all. Never thought about vaccuum packaging extra clothes and survival essential.

Had experience similar to Smedley while fishing a tournament. I'll never forget the fear going thru my mine as I went in the water. I'm a reasonably good swimmer so didn't panic, even had the presence of mind to grab my eyeglasses and hold on to them.

[smedley]

Ranger...I forgot to mention that I had the rope in one hand and caught my glasses with the other. I was only in 9 ft of water so If I had dropped them I probably could have gotten them back.

[fiddlefarter]

Not to be funny but also be careful about killer stocking caps. I was running down the lake at 60mph Saturday with a stocking cap on. I looked down and where it was folded flipped down over my eyes.