life jacket/ boat question

M

Mike Fluharty

New member
Hi guys, I do a lot of float hunting and am in need of a good comfortable life jacket, something that I can shoot with.
I have a 15 Grumman sports boat that I use on small rivers and tidal channels. The problem I have is that when under way the bow lifts to the point that I cannot see in front. I have 9.9 outboard and I have the motor down as low as possible. The gas tank is in the middle behind the center seat. Any suggestion ? Thanks
 
When layout shooting, we use the Sospenders fanny pack.

The USCG does not recognize them while "underway."

When ever the boats are running, the Sospenders vest is all we wear.
 
For the high bow boat -

Get a tiller extension handle and sit further forward in boat, put as much weight forward as you can without making the bow to heavy and low when paddling.

A 9.9 sounds awful bid for a 14' canoe. Be safe.
 
Its a 15 ft boat and is wide in the bottom and the boat is rated for a 7.5. I already had the 9.9. Thanks for the input. I had thought of the supenders type life jacket but didn't know anything aboout them.
 
PFDs:
I have a dark grey Stearns Walmart cheapo that has mesh on the shoulder so it does not interfer shouldering a weapon.

High bow:
If a tiller extention & placing all loose gear forward isn't enough, how about a 5 gallon bucket full of water in the bow? It is what I do. I dump the water out when I get to where I'm going.
 
Mike:

The Cabela's "Comfort Mesh" vest is a good solution. I regularly gun wearing mine and don't find it interferes with my mobility or shooting.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat21276-cat601996&id=0036404943049a&navCount=1&podId=0036404943049&parentId=cat601996&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=UJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601233&hasJS=true



As for your sporty boat... I had one, had the same problem with it. I was able to vastly improve the boat's behavior under power by building up the transom with mahogany lumber and aluminum so that it was about 1.5" taller, and much much less prone to flexing when I rolled in throttle. This kept the thrust angle more constant, and voila, a boat that would keep its head up when I wanted it to, would lay its head down and plane when I needed it to, and would take full advantage of the heavily rockered hull in both heavy seas and shallow water. I got a lot of use out of mine and wish I had not sold it.

I have a bunch of pics and am happy to share them with you. Let me know.
 
I use the Sospenders but worry that I'll crack my head and not pull the cord. I have extra PFD's in my boat and seat cushions that will help if I am conscious. A pfd is only good if you wear it and helps find the body without a huge bill to the family or putting others in harms way.
 
Right you are Lee,

If you are in ice water long hypothermia will kill you quick but at least your family will have a body to bury if you are wearing your approved PFD. There is no good way to go but ,the PFD will give you a few extra minutes which, God willing ,might be enough for someone to come pull you out or effect a self rescue. I wear wool as a foundatio when layering on my hunting clothes because wool will continue to insulate (albeit at a dimished rate) after it becomes wet. Been threatening to buy one of those Mustang survival suits or a diver's dry suit. Get out of the water and put on dry clothes and crank up the truck's heater. I did exactly that while poling a boat in the ditch system of an Impoundment and falling overboard. I fell off the boat and wound up upended looking at the bottom of the canal, My neoprene waders were doing a great job of keeping me upended . Finall I pushed off the bottom and rited myself, swam about ten yards unti I found a place where the dike was eroded enough to clamber out of the water.Suppose I'd had no dry clothes to put on and or the heater in the truck was kaput. Unless I could have found help I would probaly have passed on right at the boat ramp. I do remember a couple of Speckled Trout fisherman heartily laughing and offering no help.

Just thought I'd share and hope that someone would learn due to my stupidity.

You have to be tough to be stupid, (forgot to tell you I was standing while poling a narrow beamed alum. Jon Boat.)

Best wishes,

Harry
 
I have and wear the Mustang Airforce (I think it is caled Airforce) inflatable life vest. It does no good unless you wear it and I found that the other life vests were uncomfortable enough that I didn't wear them. Bought these and I forget I have it on at times. Well worth the bucks.

Mark W
 
Very important question . . .

My dad and I have used Stearns float coats for years, buy them a bit large for fitting over your waders and woolies. I have shot out of canoes while jump shooting, a layout boat, and even while shore hunting over decoys. They are warm, safe, and the 3/4 length keeps your butt warm and they have deep pockets for extra shells, calls, snacks, etc.

Here is my pfd story:
New Year's Eve day of '06 I was hunting the late duck/goose opener in SW Michigan and was paddling out after a slow morning. I jumped a flock of whistlers and took two out of the flock; one dead when he hit the water and a hen with a broken wing. In the process of chasing down the cripple, I managed to reach to far with my paddle and rolled the canoe (water in mid 30's, air 37 with freezing rain starting to fall). "Well," I said to myself,"you really did it this time." I slid back into the canoe, unloaded the gun, laid it in the bottom of the canoe, and reviewed my options.
1) Swim to the nearest shore, about 20 yards away, and then walk around the lake to my car (3/4 mile through muck and mire)
2) Swim to the downwind shore close to the access site and my car (100 yard swim and a short walk to the ramp).
3)Sit there thinking about it until hypothermia did me in.

I pulled my wool hat down tight, adjusted my wool gloves, grabbed a paddle, rolled on my back, and keeping my arms tight to my sides, "paddled" myself to the access site. Was I shivering when I got to the car? You bet, BUT my core was protected by a wool shirt, pants, and other layers, my head covered by wool, and my legs protected by waders, layers, etc, AND I was wearing a full length floatation coat that protected my body and helped my float without needing to struggle. I am alive today because of that coat, being comfortable in the water, and a healthy dose of continuous prayer on the way to the shore.

As a side note, I wear a similar coat in bright orange at work until at least mid June and start again in mid September. I don't care how warm the air is, the water up here stays cold late and starts cooling again early. If your arms get numb, you are in big trouble in the water.

Be safe, shoot straight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top