My Yearly Reminder on PDFs (Life Jackets)

[Gansett]

I find myself reposting this message each year because (in my opinion) there is nothing more important when it comes to fishing or boating. First, some background. I am now 80 years old. I was raised a mile from the ocean in Rhode Island. My dad made me an avid fisherman (thanks Dad). I served in the Coast Guard. All that to say I've been on the water a lot. The last thing that could happen to me was that I'd fall in the water and drown. Well, half of that came true that day. I was on the Alabama River near Montgomery, sitting on my front pedestal seat, crappie fishing. I leaned over to get a minnow from my bucket. At that moment the base of the seat tore loose from the deck. Two second later I was upside down in the river without my PDF. OK. No problem. I did not panic. I thought, well, I'm OK, I'll just swim to the top and get back to my boat. I start to swim up, except despite my best efforts I kept going down, not up. I was wearing jeans, a flannel shirt and heavy boots. So, I try harder and realize that I was further down than I had thought. So, while I was now going up, it was a very slow go. Remember I said I fell into the water in about two seconds? Well when that happens you don't get the chance to take a deep breath to fill your lungs with air. (Stop breathing right now!! That's what you have for air while under water.) Very quickly I had to breathe. My lungs are now burning and my chest is heaving. I know if I open my air passageway to breathe all that will happen is my lungs will fill with water. So I hang on and keep trying to swim to the top. Then I felt a calmness come over me. I thought, so this is how my life ends. It was so strange. I pictured my body floating away down the river. At that moment my hand broke the surface of the water and felt air. Two desperate kicks and my head broke the surface about for feet from my boat. I was able to grab the stern. The only issue was, how to get into the boat. I had no energy. I just hung on while taking deep breaths. Some time later, maybe ten minutes, I tried to get into the boat. I couldn't do it. I stood on the engine and pushed the trim button, That took me out of the water; but, I couldn't manage to get into the boat. After a few more minutes I went back into the water and pushed the boat toward shore until I could stand up and finally I was safe.

So, where was my life jacket during all of this. On the boat deck, at the bottom of the pedestal seat that had broken. It was entirely useless.

Some may think it is unnecessary; but, I wear my self-inflatable PDF whenever I'm in the boat. They do not interfere with my fishing and even in 95 degree weather are not that uncomfortable. In fact, more than once, I've found myself driving down the road on my way home, with my PDF still on--just forgot to take it off.

One last thing, I also carry a rope ladder in my boat, reachable from the water.

I hope I haven't overstayed my welcome on this forum with this lengthy post. But I also hope I've influenced at least one reader to wear their life jacket.

STAY SAFE

[DockShootinJack]

Being mindful of safety is always a good idea. Life is pretty fragile. A lot of the times there is no one around to rescue us. Thanks for posting and keeping us thinking about keeping ourselves safe.

[Grainraiser]

When my son was young I made him wear his life jacket at all times. One day he ask me why can't take his off like I did. Since that day my PFD goes on before I get in the boat and it does not come off until the boat is on the trailer. It has become second nature to me. I also use my kill switch at all time. My job is take care of my family and I can't do that if someone is looking for my body with livescope. Is your life worth a minor inconveinience.

[BuckeyeCrappie]

Thanks for the PSA reminder.

[DrNip]

I’m with ya. I wear inflatable PDF, use kill switch and carry a change of clothes in the boat in the cold months. Luckily I have an attached retractable ladder at the back of the boat as I have a fish/ski boat. No way I could get back in boat without ladder.

[BobC]

I’m considering it for wade fishing this year. The water isn’t deep but it doesn’t have to be….Thanks for the post!
Bob

[Grumpa]

I also encourage everyone to wear their PFD's, my brother in law had a similar situation 41 years ago this May. Unfortunately his outcome was not as well. He was 24 years old at the time of his death, his PFD was laying in the boat unused.����

[Timbertodd]

In my early 20s I found myself in the water when my dad and I flipped a canoe while bass fishing. I was not wearing my PFD and am not a strong swimmer. I drank a lot of water that day and learned a very valuable lesson. It's always on when I'm on the water now.

[Clint]

I bought an inflatable a few years ago, and the first time I wore it was to check moving the outboard up an inch. I put it on as I launched the boat. The test ran great so I headed in. Put the boat on the trailer and went home. It was not until I got home that I realized I still had my PFD on. From that day to the present, I put on before I get in the boat and leave it on until the boat is on the trailer.

[Gansett]

In my early 20s I found myself in the water when my dad and I flipped a canoe while bass fishing. I was not wearing my PFD and am not a strong swimmer. I drank a lot of water that day and learned a very valuable lesson. It's always on when I'm on the water now.

It's a shame that it takes a near fatal incident to wake us up.