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lifejackets!


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I am a #1. The life jackets these days are much more comfortable that they used to be.

One thing that always amazes me is when I see a Dad and the kids out in the boat. The kids are all wearing lifejackets but the Dad is not. Don't make much sense to me. If the kids fall over there is a good chance that Dad can rescue them, but what if HE falls in? Scared little kids are not going to be any help.

Be safe. Wear your life jacket. It may not save you but at least it will be easier to find your body.

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Guys, I know what you mean about the bulky life jacket stuff. I just started wearing the Stearns #0575 Inflata-belt Max. You wear it around your waist like a belt and if you fall into the water it auto inflates. No bulk, easy to wear! I was feeling a little guilty telling my kids to wear their jackets and yet the old man wouldn't put his on! I purchased mine through Tom Ryan owner of Oasis Sports in Pequot. He is a good friend and supports and will work with MF'ers. 218-568-4426 email at [email protected]

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Number one for me, since last summer. My four year old grandson and I were fishing and in about two feet of water for bass next to an island. A wake came in and started rocking the boat and the next thing I know I am going out of the boat like I was leaving the back of a bull at the rodeo. It took forty years for that to happen but it eventually did. I always wear a life jacket now. Also always hook the kill cord to your wrist if motoring around if you are equipped with one.

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For kids who cannot swim you HAVE to get the life preservers that have the big bulky collar behind the head. This is a must. A regular jacket like the adults wear will float a child alright but they will be face down and drown. The preservers I am talking about have all the floating material on the front of the jacket except for the big collar behind the head. These will actually save the child, not just make it easier to find the body. We found that out buy experience. Luckily we were right there before any harm was done.

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I agree with bad moon, todays lifejackets are much more comfortable I have the Stearns competetor series it's very comfy. And after my brother in law and 2 of his friends died last Labor day I go for #1

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ALWAYS # 1 I don't care how I look to others, My wife would kill me if I drowned without it on, and it puts my mind at ease so I can enjoy my fishing more. # 1 for SURE

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Great topic! I have been a #3 and fish much of the time solo. I remember being out on Mille last November one night and a snowstorm kicked up. I battled fog, big waves, and horizontal snow back to the launch. I could barely see even with the spot light. Man, what an ***** I was. I had 2 life jackets on board and not one on me. I am going to change this today. I don't want to be the guy my wife and daughter read about in the paper.

Thanks.

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I've always been a number 2 and sometimes number one. And...anyone in my boat is the same. Argue with me all they want, I'll leave them at the dock. Reading of all of the drowning this year so far is just foolish. Being dead is not very macho, it's being dead......forever!, No more fishing, no more family. Don't be selfish, continue to share your life, it's way too short as it is.

GunDr

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I found two nice lifejackets that are for kids 0-30 pounds. One looks like the kid could survive falling out of the boat in the ocean during a hurricane. The other is less bulky but looks like it will get the job done if the kid were to take a swim by accident. I think I will order the hurricane one to make Mom feel better. I can't wait to teach the kid how to fish and hunt. I hope she wants and likes to do either.

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I'm a #2. This year on opener, the other three guys I was with all gave me grief about wearing my preserver, so I told them I only wear it so one of us can identify the others if we have an accident! They put their's on the rest of the week-end, at least!

------------------
Fish now, lie about it later!

[This message has been edited by wolfman-k (edited 07-09-2004).]

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I definately a 3 except when in a tourney which of course requires it.

Speaking of life jackets one of my friends told me that you do not have to have them out (that they can be in storage?) you only need to have a throwable with in reach. I always thought you had to have both out no matter what... Please Advise

Thanks
Chev

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Chev - I know the life jackets can be in storage, and I think the throwable can also be in storage. Last time my friend was checked by the sheriff, he had everything in storage and the cop just made fun of him.

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They have to be readily accessibile according to the State booklet. I would think most CO's would interpret this as not being in storage.

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If you want to find out up close and personal, what is, or is not allowed, take your craft and your present system out on Minnetonka....chances are, you will know in a hurry if you are up to speed!

I'm just kidding around, the sheriffs dept. does what they have to do....lots of boats, lots of people.

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MT:

welcome to the best fishing site in the world! great point regarding practice what you preach.

andy

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I used to never wear one. Just had it within arms reach. Started hearing more about people drowning who had it within arms reach and I started wearing it more often. Then had a daughter, started taking her fishing to the cabin and other remote areas. Started thinking that, along with setting a good example, if something happened to me, how is she going to survive if I were to drown. I'd rather not wear one, but when other people depend on you, better put one on.

------------------
Erik Torgerson

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I'm new to the forum and picked this string for my first post. I'm definitely a #1, as are my children and my wife. It doesn't matter how strong of a swimmer you are if the water is cold, you injure yourself, or you're alone. Why chance it? It also sets a good example for our children...practice what you preach.

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They do have to be readily available, and NOT just in storage. I was fishing with a guy once and we got checked by the Sheriff Patrol. We had our jackets on or close by, but the throwable cushion was still in its plastic wrap from the store. He made us remove the plastic wrap.
Several times I have been fishing while wearing my jacket, and the Sheriff Patrol just cruises on by. They like to stop boats where nobody is wearing their lifejackets.

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So does that mean the only the throwable needs to be readily accessable? Or do both need to be out in the open? Looking for first hand knowledge.

Thanks
Chev

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Chev - Both the throwable and 1 PFD for each person on board need to be "readily accessible". The reason that term is open to somewhat wide interpretation is that it covers so many different types of watercraft.

For example, on one of the "dinner cruise" boats you see all the time on Minnetonka that seat 75 people, there are obviously not 75 PFDs lying all over the floor 'out of storage'. In that case, the PFDs are stored, but they are still considered readily accessible for the conditions, because the storage containers are well marked, easy to open, and in logical areas of the watercraft.

Next example, a Pontoon. On most modern pontoons, the PFDs are under the seat storage, and that is generally fine to leave them there as a rule (in the eyes of peace officers that is, the eyes of parents certainly can see a little differently).

Now, on a truly small watercraft, especially like small fishing boats (under 21 ft), sometimes a "stored" PFD is not going to be OK to a peace officer, especially, as I have seen, a PFD in a LOCKED storage, or more commonly, stuffed into a storage box too small so that one has to struggle and do a rubix cube to get the PFD out of the storage. Those are examples of NOT readily accessible.

Use your judgement, first and foremost, that PFD is there to save YOU, NOT to satisfy a peace officer. So keep that PFD in easy reach if you choose not to wear it.


My personal position is continuously moving towards #1.

I did have a somewhat close call under power moving pretty fast once on the Mississipi, no PFD on. A lot of "what-if"-ing goes through your head afterward...

Also some simple logistics. My boat is not that large (17.5 feet). It makes moving around the boat much easier if the PFD is on me, than if it is on the floor taking up floor space. Also (after incident above), I quickly went to the store and bought the most comfortable PFD I could find, and that helps a lot.

Last word: I have no problem at all with myself or anyone else on my boat leaving the PFD off when the boat is NOT under power, provided the individual can swim.

If you are an angler, and you cannot swin, I encourage you to learn how. Even with a PFD, you should know how to swim if you are on the water a lot, not necessarily for yourself, but if someone else is in need of help, you can only be of limited use if you are not comfortable in the water with the fishes...

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This was a great post! It made me think about my 3 little ones. I take them fishing and always make them wear thiers but I've always been a have it in the boat and don't worry about it guy for myself. I am a good swimmer but what if I did bang my head while going in, or the water was too cold, etc. I think I'm going to be a 1 from now on.

~piker

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#3 and I am as bad as they get. I have my vests in the front storage compartment. I remember to take it out and put it on the back of my chair about 1 out of 5 trips out blush.gif

Every year I tell myself that I need to wear it at least when I am under power and I really agree that I need to. But when it comes to actually doing it, I really fail to follow through.

There is a fine line between macho and plain old stupid. I guess I fall on the stupid side confused.gif

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Call me stupid as well. I only remember once wearing a life jacket. I was fishing solo in a 16' boat on Lake Erie in 3-6' waves.
Other than that, 2',3',4',5',6',7',,8' waves........I'm without a life jacket jumping around my boat like a monkey!

PS: I hope monkeys are good swimmers! grin.gif

------------------
http://groups.msn.com/canitbeluck

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Hey gang, great topic !
From the July 9, Outdoor News. DNR boating safety specialist Tim Smalley tells us this ..

DNR statistics show that 80 percent of the victims of fatal boating accidents would have survived had they been wearing a life jacket. Most boating accident victims are males in their 30's with some swimming ability. Most boats are less than 16 feet in length with motors less than 40 horsepower or no motors at all.
" I think what surprises people about fatal boating accidents is they aren't high-speed collisions between big boats." Smalley said. " It's often a simple capsizing or fall overboard. It really shows how important life jackets are."


80 PERCENT !
Not much I can add to that.

Don

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