Safety on the water.
- Thread starter JC Cross
- Start date
justin boucher
New member
Thank you carl
I just read this and am glad you are OK. That is a very close call, and a good story you should share far and wide. You might try a big magnet on the end of a rope for your gun.
John Oliver
New member
Let me preface this by saying, I worked on a Fire Boat for many years and had private business teaching boat operations for decades. I am very familiar with water emergencies.
Last season one of my partners had a very close call while taking a dive out of my boat. He was not familiar with the low sides of my `14' Duck Hunter and while throwing out decoys he took a swim. As I turned, all I saw were the bottom of his boots as he entered the water. I personally have invested in the Mustang HIT lifejackets and require all my crew to wear a PFD until we get the boat set and blind up. He followed my lead and purchased a Mustang HIT also. I hunt on the Lower Columbia where we border a rain forest definition, so the dissolvable pill autos don't last.
In this experience I have lost some confidence in Inflatable vests!
Due to the angled sides of my DH, he hit the water headfirst. As advertised the auto inflate was supposed deploy in inches of water pressure. He surfaced in a panic struggling to stay afloat with all his gear on. As he struggled with his head above the water the vest failed to deploy. Thanks to the man upstairs: I just happened to be on the "pole" as we were setting out decoys and I had chosen to bring my long pole that day!
He was within reach!
As I reached out with the pole, he grabbed it, and I began to pull him to the boat. In the process the vest deployed. The problem that developed was that with all new clothing gear that goes up around your neck and a few too many cheeseburgers, the vest first started to choke him. Whether it was him or the fit it slipped over his head. Mind you it was still connected to him but with a PFD hanging to the side you have to struggle to keep your head above water. Again, I had him on the pole and got him to the boat, but he was unable to board. Thank god again, I had an electric start motor and got him over to shallows.
Since I primarily hunt by myself, I am moving away from the inflatable vests. I have heard stories of them popping off or choking the wearer, on this occasion, I had a front row seat! I have went back to my regular vests especially when I am alone. Especially if you are built like an offensive tackle, I highly recommend re-thinking the inflatables.
Last season one of my partners had a very close call while taking a dive out of my boat. He was not familiar with the low sides of my `14' Duck Hunter and while throwing out decoys he took a swim. As I turned, all I saw were the bottom of his boots as he entered the water. I personally have invested in the Mustang HIT lifejackets and require all my crew to wear a PFD until we get the boat set and blind up. He followed my lead and purchased a Mustang HIT also. I hunt on the Lower Columbia where we border a rain forest definition, so the dissolvable pill autos don't last.
In this experience I have lost some confidence in Inflatable vests!
Due to the angled sides of my DH, he hit the water headfirst. As advertised the auto inflate was supposed deploy in inches of water pressure. He surfaced in a panic struggling to stay afloat with all his gear on. As he struggled with his head above the water the vest failed to deploy. Thanks to the man upstairs: I just happened to be on the "pole" as we were setting out decoys and I had chosen to bring my long pole that day!
He was within reach!
As I reached out with the pole, he grabbed it, and I began to pull him to the boat. In the process the vest deployed. The problem that developed was that with all new clothing gear that goes up around your neck and a few too many cheeseburgers, the vest first started to choke him. Whether it was him or the fit it slipped over his head. Mind you it was still connected to him but with a PFD hanging to the side you have to struggle to keep your head above water. Again, I had him on the pole and got him to the boat, but he was unable to board. Thank god again, I had an electric start motor and got him over to shallows.
Since I primarily hunt by myself, I am moving away from the inflatable vests. I have heard stories of them popping off or choking the wearer, on this occasion, I had a front row seat! I have went back to my regular vests especially when I am alone. Especially if you are built like an offensive tackle, I highly recommend re-thinking the inflatables.
Thanks for sharing. I was considering an inflatable but am now sufficiently spooked.This story could have ended very differently without your preparedness training. RM
Patrick Ward
New member
Because I can't stay away from a good disaster, our near miss this year was on Tomales Bay north of San Francisco.
I was out with my 84-year-old father and sister brant hunting. We knew we had a deadline to get in because a severe storm was approaching. The storm arrived as we were coming in, bringing heavy wind and a swell dead astern.
The trip in was bad enough that I later found we had bent the internal frame of our 18-foot inflatable. The attached picture was taken shortly after we got back to the launch.
Everyone was in life jackets (even the dog), but I'm not sure that would have helped much if we had flipped the boat.
I was out with my 84-year-old father and sister brant hunting. We knew we had a deadline to get in because a severe storm was approaching. The storm arrived as we were coming in, bringing heavy wind and a swell dead astern.
The trip in was bad enough that I later found we had bent the internal frame of our 18-foot inflatable. The attached picture was taken shortly after we got back to the launch.
Everyone was in life jackets (even the dog), but I'm not sure that would have helped much if we had flipped the boat.
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