My Lifejacket Saved Me Today.

[OperationEagle]

Boaters...and especially kayakers:  Please wear your lifejackets at all times.  I always do and today I am especially glad that I did.

 

I was anchored up on the side opposite to the side the wind was blowing.  With that you know where this is going...a wind gust and wave hit me hard enough that my anchored side pulled the kayak under enough that it flipped.

 

Within seconds I was in the 50 degree water on the side of the anchor.  Because the anchor was attached to the kayak, I couldnt flip the boat over.  What's worse, the longer it remained flipped, the more water the kayak was taking on...making flipping it back over increasingly difficult.

 

I tried to maintain composure but the longer I tried to work around my boat I could feel my body start to shiver.  I was able to call over to another boat for assistance.  I was very lucky as it was the only other boat on the water.

 

By the time we reached shore, my lips were blue and I could not speak in complete sentences.  Reading about hypothermia, I now understand what was happening...what really surprises me is how fast these symptoms came on.

 

Needless to say, I am forever thankful to those boaters that helped a stranger in need.  I am also thankful for my lifejacket which I will never take off no matter how uncomfortable or restrictive it may feel.

 

If this post helps just one boater in the future I would be elated.  Please wear your lifejacket. 

 

Tight and safe lines.

[flyfisher]

Glad to hear all that happened was a lessoned learned.

[Swampstud]

Glad to hear your safe. God was with ya today id say!

[Mike L]

Whew!

Sure glad you're ok!

Hit your knees tonight my friend.

Mike

[WRB]

Most boaters have PFD's and don't wear them unless fishing a tournament that mandates using them.

Kayaks, I hope everyone wears their PFD's.

You are a lucky man and hope you have the names and phone number of the boater who help you.... Diner sounds like a good payback! Did you loose any valuable tackle?

Tom

[Smokinal]

I'm going out tomorrow by myself, which is rare, and I will have my new PFD on at all times. Previous posts made me pick one up and posts like this keep me wearing it. Thanks for sharing your story and I'm glad to hear you are ok.

[A-Jay]

Glad you're OK ~

 

As the warm water season ends and the waters we fish get colder hyperthermia becomes more of a factor.  Many boaters / anglers do not  know or realize how fast an immersed human becomes incapacitated.

 

50 degree water equals 15 minutes before incapacity and/or unconsciousness with life jacket on.

50 degree water equals 9 minutes before incapacity and/or unconsciousness without a life jacket.

 

Please go to and read the info in the link below.

 

A-Jay

http://www.useakayak.org/references/hypothermia_table.html

 

[Catch and Grease]

Glad your not another news story... I don't wear my PFD nearly enough, especially when I'm alone

[jbw252]

Glad to hear your incident had a good ending.  Thanks for sharing that, so we can all learn from it.

[OperationEagle]

Tom, yes I lost my rod and reel.  To be honest, it has been easy to mentally let those things go as things could have been so much worse.

 

A-jay thanks for that table...an eye opener for sure.

 

Here is one last discovery.  I am sore, achy, and exhausted.  It seems the body expends a ton of energy to protect itself when placed under sudden duress.

 

Thanks for all the well wishes....I am so glad I am ok.  I just wanted to share my situation to prevent a tragedy from happening to others. 

 

This board has been so helpful in teaching me how to be a better fisherman.  As I or we become obsessed with catching "the big one", its easy to overlook the simple or seemingly inconvenient aids that could keep us alive.

[gramps50]

Glad this turned out well for you!

 

Thanks for posting this life lesson that could save someone else from a tragedy. 

[BassnChris]

Glad your ok.

I wear mine at all times.......my pic was before I bought it.

[geo g]

Great lesson for all of us.  I wear mine when I fish alone in the boat.  Glad you are OK.

[F14A-B]

Wow! Geez, you might see a doctor my friend..

Idk.. But I think I would, Stay safe & thanks for sharing a very important life lesson...

God speed...

[EvanT123]

Man that's a crazy story. I'm glad your ok and thanks for telling it.

Makes me realize money spent on this and that, is not as important as spending money on a pfd that I would wear 24/7 on the water.

[Bluebasser86]

A buddy of mine went into low 40 degree water for less than a minute when I was a kid. By the time I got him on the bank, it had been less than 5 minutes and he couldn't even bend his knees and could barely talk. It's nothing to mess with and I'm glad your situation turned out for the better, it could have been a lot worse. 

[kikstand454]

Glad you're OK!

I wear my pfd at all times in my kayak. Even in 80° Saltwater less than a foot deep.

[Oregon Native]

Glad your ok

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

 

Glad you're OK ~

 

As the warm water season ends and the waters we fish get colder hyperthermia becomes more of a factor.  Many boaters / anglers do not  know or realize how fast an immersed human becomes incapacitated.

 

50 degree water equals 15 minutes before incapacity and/or unconsciousness with life jacket on.

50 degree water equals 9 minutes before incapacity and/or unconsciousness without a life jacket.

 

Please go to and read the info in the link below.

 

A-Jay

http://www.useakayak.org/references/hypothermia_table.html

 

 

A-Jay, You're obviously experienced in these things. In addition to a PFD how is it best to dress to stay warm as possible should get dunked?

[A-Jay]

A-Jay, You're obviously experienced in these things. In addition to a PFD how is it best to dress to stay warm as possible should get dunked?

 

That's a very good question Mike especially for those anglers who fish from "paddle" type water craft.

 

As per the chart previously added, a Drysuit with polypro layers or wetsuit plus drytop, neoprene booties, hat & gloves is a standard outfit in order to be properly protected once the water temps dip into the 50's.   For many weekend / recreational anglers this seems like over kill.   Unfortunately, like many of life's hard lessons, it's hard to understand just how quick & deadly cold water immersion is. 

 

  While fishing, 50 degree water may not "feel too cold" on our hands.  Once one has the unfortunate experience of floating around in it for a while, the whole thing become very real. 

 

 Whether in a professional or recreational activity, being in a small boat in cold water is Always a life threating event.  The question is if one choses to take the steps necessary to protect themselves.

 

A PFD is a must.  But it's not enough for these circumstances.  I fish from a canoe.  After 01 Oct here the water cools fast, I wear a one piece neoprene dry suit.  If I go in, I'm at least giving myself a solid opportunity to survive.  The cost of the correct gear is about the same a one quality rod & reel. 

 

Clearly one can fish for a long time without cold water protection, but unlike a warm water dunking, you may not get a second opportunity to get it right.

 

 The OP here was EXTREMELY LUCKY, if there had been no one else on the lake that day, it very well could have been his last.

 

 Think about that.

 

A-Jay

[Felix77]

Thanks for sharing your story.  Glad you are ok!

[J Francho]

A drysuit, or semi drysuit is more important than a PFD.  I won't downplay a PFD...EVER, but in the case of extremes, a PFD often is just the difference of having a body to bury or not.  I see guys out in small craft with jeans and sweatshirts...cotton kills. folks! Another mistake I see is waders.  I hope you have a firmly cinched wading belt on, if you go this route, because otherwise, you're not getting out of the water once those are filled up.  Also, this is where a sit on top kayak is preferable to a sit in.  You may think you're more protected in a sit in, but water re-entry to a sit in is nearly impossible, even with help, and without a drysuit you're in trouble, fast.  I have done one cold water rescue, and it gets ugly fast.

[Felixone]

Thank you for sharing.  I am so glad to know it turned out ok for you.  It is a good reminder to me for why I wear mine all the time.  I generally fish alone out of a kayak.  I am terrified of something going wrong while I am out, even though most of the water I fish out of is shallow enough for me to stand.  Fortunately for me, even though my PFD is a cheap one it is actually quite comfortable.  I actually like the snug fit, and keep it cinched up as tight as it will go.  Keeping it really snug helps with it riding up so it never really gives me any trouble, and even though the padding is low on the back it actually helps give me support.  It kind of works like a lumbar support.

 

For those on the fence, there was a quote from a EMT/S on here a while back in a similar thread.  They stated that they have never removed a PFD from a drowning victim.  Although just one persons experience, this is a powerful statement.  Accidents can happen at any time.  Stay safe everyone!

[Felixone]

I see guys out in small craft with jeans and sweatshirts...cotton kills. folks!

 

I am just poking a bit of fun, but I find it kind of funny that your profile pic shows you in a small boat with jeans and a sweatshirt (also no PFD).

[A-Jay]

For those not familiar with it - this is what Planning To Stay Alive looks like.

 

A-Jay