Snakehead Whisperer Posted November 7, 2013 Author Posted November 7, 2013 What's the HELP position? It stands for 'heat escape lessening position.' It basically is meant to limit the exposure of body parts that lose heat fastest while in the water to slow the onset of hypothermia. A google search for help position will net you pictures of what it looks like. The 'survival position' while less effective, is another position that can be used if you haven't enough buoyancy to remain in the help position safely. Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted November 9, 2013 Author Posted November 9, 2013 Quick update: My outboard survived this ordeal and seems to be running as well as it did before the swim. Lost the cowl in the accident, and found one nearby in decent shape for $30 too. Thanks again everyone for the support and well wishes. -Andrew 4 Quote
awefvawervwae Posted November 12, 2013 Posted November 12, 2013 Thanks for sharing and glad you are ok. Nothing to be embarrassed about one bit. Things like this happen way to often and we don't take the time to recognize it like you have. We fish year round here even when its snowing and ice out. Some of the best striper fishing in the winter time. For years I was one of those that felt that I was a great swimmer being on swim teams all through my upbringing and love the water so I never bothered with wearing them as they were to bulky and didnt feel comfortable and did not want to spend the money on an inflatable. That changed the begining of this year one of our local striper guides sliped off the front deck of his boat fully dressed in his winter gear this past January. He sank straight to the bottom. Thankfully this happened only a couple of yards from shore. He literally walked along the bottom to shallower water where he could stand with his head above water. Had he been in deeper water his story might not have been the same. Someone else mentioned a couple of posts ago about it keeping your body afloat so you are easier to find and recover. This summer a man was sailing on a small sailboat on our lake with his family in a ski boat 50 yards away. They turned their back to him for a split second and when they turned around he was missing. They have yet to find his body and this happened this past July. The suspicion is that he had a heart attach and fell over board. Had he been wearing a PFD he might of been saved let alone his body been easily recovered. Ever since our local striper guide incident I went out and spent the money on new insulated bibs and parka for winter fishing. They are designed for Ice fishing. They float you just like a survival suit due to they type of insulation used. I also spent the money on an inflatable PFD and wear it all times. 2 Quote
Smokinal Posted January 22, 2014 Posted January 22, 2014 I said I would... http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Life-Jackets-Vests/Inflatable-Life-Jackets|/pc/104794380/c/104741280/sc/104399280/Cabelas-Tournament-3500-Auto-Inflatable-Personal-Flotation-Device/1546036.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Finflatable-life-jackets%2F_%2FN-1100590%2FNs-MAX_SALE_PRICE%257C1%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104794380%253Bcat104741280%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104741280%3Bcat104399280 Just picked one up. This is a great time to get a good deal on one if you have been considering it. Regularly $170... on sale for $99 1 Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted January 22, 2014 Author Posted January 22, 2014 I said I would... http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Life-Jackets-Vests/Inflatable-Life-Jackets|/pc/104794380/c/104741280/sc/104399280/Cabelas-Tournament-3500-Auto-Inflatable-Personal-Flotation-Device/1546036.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Finflatable-life-jackets%2F_%2FN-1100590%2FNs-MAX_SALE_PRICE|1%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104741280%26WTz_stype%3DGNU&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104741280%3Bcat104399280 Just picked one up. This is a great time to get a good deal on one if you have been considering it. Regularly $170... on sale for $99 Glad that you stuck with it. That's a great price. The re-arming kits are only $21 too. Thanks for the heads up. Quote
Stlbob Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 Im glad i read this.I am getting a boat this year and now even before the boat i have rules.if you step in the boat.PFD's required...I will be fishing the Meramac and other rivers in my area.we lose people every year. One question im a big boy a little over 6ft and 275 do they make a PFD that will keep ME afloat..lol...i am real broad across the chest have a god awful time finding shirts that fit.Am i going to have any issue finding a flotation device..? Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted January 30, 2014 Super User Posted January 30, 2014 Having seen the devastation that comes from the loss of a husband, father and friend to drowning while fishing, and had a couple of very close calls myself, I appreciate your willingness to share your story. Glad you had the resolve to wear your life jacket. It has been said that are no excuses for not wearing one. The truth is there are many. I have used most of them at one time or another. When weighed in the balance with the consequences of not wearing one, it is a foolish rationalization. Glad you're OK. Good luck with the boat, motor, and replacing your gear. 2 Quote
Snakehead Whisperer Posted January 31, 2014 Author Posted January 31, 2014 Having seen the devastation that comes from the loss of a husband, father and friend to drowning while fishing, and had a couple of very close calls myself, I appreciate your willingness to share your story. Glad you had the resolve to wear your life jacket. It has been said that are no excuses for not wearing one. The truth is there are many. I have used most of them at one time or another. When weighed in the balance with the consequences of not wearing one, it is a foolish rationalization. Glad you're OK. Good luck with the boat, motor, and replacing your gear. Thank you for your kind words. I felt that I had a responsibility to share what happened to me, in case somebody would take it to heart and at least consider the decision a little more seriously because of it. What you say is all true. I had plenty of excuses before, but now I view it as a no-brainer. For me it is a 100% of the time thing now; whether underway or just fishing, I'm wearing my life jacket. I've had the boat out several times since this incident, and the motor is fine (after draining about a gallon of water from the crankcase, fogging, fresh fuel and about 90-minutes running on the stand.) I've still got enough gear to fish, and have replaced much of what was lost. The lesson learned from all of this was a bargain at the cost of the gear I lost. 1 Quote
Super User K_Mac Posted January 31, 2014 Super User Posted January 31, 2014 The lesson learned from all of this was a bargain at the cost of the gear I lost. That my friend is the absolute truth. Counting our blessings and not the cost is not always easy. Your attitude is exceptional. You are a good example for all of us. Quote
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