Safety on the water.

[Carl]

Justin, that was a close call, glad you are OK.

 

[justin boucher]

Justin, that was a close call, glad you are OK.

Thank you carl

 

[greg setter]

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]

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.

 

[RM Anderson]

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]

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.

 

[Carl]

Yikes, that's one that will be burned into memory for both good and bad reasons!

 

[greg setter]

I wouldn't have wanted to be out there either Patrick, glad you all got back safe and sound.

 

[RM Anderson]

The Antithesis of Safety on the Water

Reddit - The heart of the internet

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[HenryHawthorne]

He probably has a banana on that boat, too.

 

[SJ Fairbank]

But he is being safe. Helmet and pfd. The helmet will keep his head above water in a crash.

 

[justin boucher]

Ice is back on the water, its been a year since i went swimming, but im not letting it keep me from doing what i enjoy most in life. Today happened to be chasing down the duck blind since the ice took it up river

 

[Capt Rich Geminski]

A couple of duck hunters are lost in Virginia on the James River. Apparently they ended up in the water and the search has now become a recovery effort. The extreme cold and ice has made this extremely difficult and the tools normally used such as side-scan sonar is not possible due to the ice. Until it warms up it will be a waiting game.

I have had some close calls duck hunting and have gone overboard as well as having minor mishaps like flooded waders and so on. I had a younger brother whose boat sunk in icy water and though he was in the water only five minute he was totally played out and weak when we drug him into our boat. He was just about to give up when we got to him. He did not even have the strength to yell for help and had trouble hanging on to a goose decoy that was holding him up.

We often take things for granted and feel we could climb back on board. It just is not that easy. A simple thing like failing to attach a kill switch or not wearing a PFD can get you killed. Especially as cold as it is now. Recently a navy SEAL died on the Chesapeake Bay when he fell out of a kayak. Despite his extreme physical fitness and training he was overcome by hypothermia. If it can happen to him I know it will happen to someone like me a lot easier.

I have watched dozens of water recovery operations and they are very sad for the family and friends. Especially when the bodies are not found quickly. I strongly recommend everyone wear a PFD at all times. Even if you fall overboard and eventually die from exposure you sure make it a lot easier to recover your body. I hope this reminder is taken seriously and do not take things for granted.

Wear your pfd, the life you save my be your own! Be safe out there.