Can you swim

[Catt]

100% Cajun & a bit of a survivalist ?

 

Been in boats that sunk, capsized, flipped, run into a Ferry Boat, been 135 miles offshore in the Gulf with no steering, & rode out server thunderstorms.

 

Swim? Why certainly!

Wear PFD? Always!

 

[12poundbass]

This summer was a big wake up call for me when launching my boat and the rope snapped. There went the boat. I was a great swimmer as a kid and hadn't swam since I was 20 or so.

 

Fast forward almost 15 years and my 7 year old and I are the only one's on this secluded lake with no houses and I had no choice but to go after my boat. I stripped down to my underwear so clothes were no issue. But factor in added weight over the years, totally out of shape, like @slonezp a destroyed shoulder from hockey, and the fact I hadn't swam in almost 15 years I'll be the first to admit I wouldn't make it too long with clothes and no PFD. Quite honestly if it weren't for my ability to float on my back (which I wasn't sure I could still do) and rest I might not had made it to my boat and probably would've drowned right there in front of my son. 

 

My point is just because you could and did as a kid doesn't mean you still can. Like @A-Jay said try it out in a controlled environment with somebody else. Swimming isn't like riding a bike!

[DINK WHISPERER]

Man you guys make some really great points that I had not considered yet. A big part of why I started getting even more serious about this is the fact that my 8 year old son started fishing with me last year. He is really upset about the Okeechobee FLW situation right now and is asking a lot of questions and what ifs. I have already taught him to drive the boat at idle conditions and to use the Lowrance units to guide himself to safety if something were to happen to me. When on shallow lakes he knows if I fall in to put the power poles down right away so the boat doesn't leave me behind too bad. It terrifies me to think that something could ever happen to him under my watch. In a controlled environment like a swimming pool with trunks on and no shoes I do okay. However, a few years back I fell off of a jet ski and was drowning in 5 feet of water because I was panicking. I guess all one can do is take as many precautions as you can and hope for the best.

[BrackishBassin]

Yes, quite well. Regularly completed the mile swim in Boy Scouts and spent lots of time swimming in the ocean and larger lakes growing up. 

 

Swimming really should be a part of the elementary school curriculum everywhere. It’s a safety issue. Not everyone needs to be an Olympic swimmer, but everyone needs to be able to at least float on their back comfortably. 

 

I say, take the classes. If someone wants to laugh at you for learning something that could save your life, they’re probably not worth the oxygen they’re using on a daily basis. 

[Bankbeater]

I go swimming every chance I get.  I have had to swim when the boat launched without me, and to retrieve a rod. 

[Crankin4Bass]

Yes and I wear a pfd at all times. Please go ahead and take swimming lessons and wear your pfd. I have a family friend who did not wear a pfd and couldn't swim. He fell out of a canoe last summer on a small pond and drowned in 8 feet of water. He got trapped in milfoil. The divers had a tough time finding his body. Such a shame. He was only 65 and had just retired and loved fishing everyday.

[RPreeb]

A bit more to add to this.  I used to be a whitewater kayaker - paddled some pretty hairy rapids - and I wouldn't be caught out on the river with my PFD.  I unintentionally swam through rapids which I would never have voluntarily jumped into.  I'm also a scuba diver, divemaster rated, and I wouldn't do that without my BCD (buoyancy control device), but it is a bit different when you carry your air supply with you. 

 

When I go out in my new canoe, I will definitely have a PFD with me, and it will be worn if conditions warrant.  Otherwise it will be stowed in a spot on the canoe which is accessible from the water.  I have no qualms about taking off my shoes and pants in the water if necessary, and I know how to put the PFD on when in the water.  Since a canoe is not typically going to be involved in a high speed accident, the risk of physical injury is less than in a powerboat.

[jbmaine]

swimming just about since I could walk, but still wear a PFD.

[NHBull]

Swimming and water survival are 2 separate things and if you can't do both with clothes and shoes on, you should have a PFD.  Having witnessed a few accidents, I tie a piece of 1 inch nylon webbing 12 inches long to the bow and Stern.  Just enough to throw an arm through to catch a breath.  Adding a strap to the bottom rung of a ladder also helps.....don't ask how I know this

[DINK WHISPERER]

I've heard/read many discussions on adding some kind of seatbelt restraint/harness system to your boat. Since supposedly most of the damage is done while being ejected and hitting things on the way out. Then the actual being in the water possibly stranded part. First thing that comes to mind is capsizing and being buckled into the cockpit. But, then again, I've never seen a bass boat really capsize. Thoughts on this?

[DogBone_384]

I swim a mile (+ -) three times a week to keep in shape.

[Gundog]

3 hours ago, slonezp said:

 It's why I fish naked most of the time.

Don't blame me...slonezp brought it up. 

[NYWayfarer]

2 hours ago, RPreeb said:

When I go out in my new canoe, I will definitely have a PFD with me, and it will be worn if conditions warrant.  Otherwise it will be stowed in a spot on the canoe which is accessible from the water.  I have no qualms about taking off my shoes and pants in the water if necessary, and I know how to put the PFD on when in the water.  Since a canoe is not typically going to be involved in a high speed accident, the risk of physical injury is less than in a powerboat.

Call me paranoid if you want but what if a high speed boat hits you? Just wear the PFD all the time as you never know what life is going to throw at you. My son and I canoe on a river that sees a lot of jet ski and water ski activity. Best be sure we have our PFD’s on  as these boaters are often looking backwards at their skiers and not at what they could run into.

 

Even if you are in a small lake with no speedy traffic you could pass out from low blood sugar, sunstroke, etc and fall into the water. The PFD saves you from being a tragic accident. Just wear the d**n thing!

[haggard]

Haven't tried it in years but I bet I could. But I still wear a PFD every outing. As a kid grew I up on the water, swimming all the time. First step to learning it was realizing that if you lay on your back and relax, and gently work the arms and legs, you won't sink.

 

Now I wear PFD without question, every time, yak or powered boat. I'm not a kid anymore, and regardless, when things go wrong they can go wrong fast. Like seat belts, helmets, fire extinguishers, etc. a PFD is cheap insurance. The older I get the more respect (or fear) I have for the power of the water. 

 

 

1 hour ago, Gundog said:

Don't blame me...slonezp brought it up. 

 That is NOT a personal flotation device.

[WRB]

34 minutes ago, haggard said:

Haven't tried it in years but I bet I could. But I still wear a PFD every outing. As a kid grew I up on the water, swimming all the time. First step to learning it was realizing that if you lay on your back and relax, and gently work the arms and legs, you won't sink.

 

Now I wear PFD without question, every time, yak or powered boat. I'm not a kid anymore, and regardless, when things go wrong they can go wrong fast. Like seat belts, helmets, fire extinguishers, etc. a PFD is cheap insurance. The older I get the more respect (or fear) I have for the power of the water. 

 

 

 That is NOT a personal flotation device.

It's a Cajun.

[Sam]

6 hours ago, WRB said:

If you are the boats captian/helmsman driving the boat you are responsible for everyone's safety in the boat. 

My late father in law couldn't swim and flew float planes, getting out onto the pontoon float while the plane coasted towards shore or a dock, and didn't wear a PFD. When riding in my bass boat I handed him my suspenders type and put it on saying he wished they had these years ago. Some people don't like to wear the bulky type PFD's.

My fishing partner Ron couldn't swim and owned a bass boat but was uncomfortable not wearing his PFD. You must wear a PFD when tournament bass fishing and I wonder if the guy missing at Okeechobee FLW event was wearing his? 

Tom

 

Yes, in tournaments you have to have your PFD on when the big motor is operational unless the trolling motor is down and the boat is moving slow, although the big motor is powering the watercraft.

 

You can remove your PFD in a tournament once you turn off the big motor.

[RPreeb]

1 hour ago, NYWayfarer said:

Call me paranoid if you want but what if a high speed boat hits you? Just wear the PFD all the time as you never know what life is going to throw at you. My son and I canoe on a river that sees a lot of jet ski and water ski activity. Best be sure we have our PFD’s on  as these boaters are often looking backwards at their skiers and not at what they could run into.

 

Even if you are in a small lake with no speedy traffic you could pass out from low blood sugar, sunstroke, etc and fall into the water. The PFD saves you from being a tragic accident. Just wear the d**n thing!

As I said, I'll wear one when the situation warrants it.  I spend a lot of time near shore just prowling the shallows.  I won't probably be on any very large lakes unless I'm a long ways from home - aside from Lake McConaughy, about 1½ hours away, the lakes around here are smallish reservoirs, and most of my fishing and exploring will be around the edges of them.  If I get into a situation like you describe, I'll be wearing my PFD, but I won't be locked into it.  My choice.

[Quarry Man]

Several close calls while swimming have made me terrified of being in the water. I also sink like a rock (5% body fat will do that), but I am in extremely good shape and could likely tread water for an hour if need be. I always avoid swimming, but always stay near shore and if not i wear my life vest. I don't go out in the boat when hypothermia is a possibility and if i am way offshore, i wear a pfd. Also, my home lake is like 4' deep so i can just stand lol.

 

All it takes is one close call and you'll wear your pfd/be more careful...

[MickD]

6 hours ago, A-Jay said:

Having a boarding ladder (or knowing how to use your motor's trim) to get back on board is very beneficial too.

Very good point.  After dumping my brother over one time, and trying to bring him back into the boat by his standing on the horizontal fin on the lower unit, we found it very difficult since his shoe was slipping on the fin.  I added some of that yellow "sandpaper" tape to the fin in case it ever happened again.  It is VERY difficult to get a person back into the boat.  My Lund dealer puts the ladder on every boat, and he expects it to be a requirement soon.

 

My son kids that I must always wear a PFD- he doesn't want to waste a lot of fishing time searching for the body.

[slonezp]

50 minutes ago, MickD said:

 

My son kids that I must always wear a PFD- he doesn't want to waste a lot of fishing time searching for the body.

Proper time management cashes checks in tourneys.

[BuzzHudson19c]

Yep. Some of my earliest memories are swimming at the lake. If I'm out fishing and it's warm enough, I like to pull the kayak on shore and take a quick dip.

Also I know it's not recommended, but I never wear a PFD, so it helps to be a good swimmer.

[slonezp]

1 hour ago, Quarry Man said:

Several close calls while swimming have made me terrified of being in the water. I also sink like a rock (5% body fat will do that), but I am in extremely good shape and could likely tread water for an hour if need be. I always avoid swimming, but always stay near shore and if not i wear my life vest. I don't go out in the boat when hypothermia is a possibility and if i am way offshore, i wear a pfd. Also, my home lake is like 4' deep so i can just stand lol.

 

All it takes is one close call and you'll wear your pfd/be more careful...

Hypothermia is always a possibility. It just takes longer in warmer water. A PFD won't prevent hypothermia, it can prevent drowning and will make it easier for someone to find you. You can drown in 3" of water if you get thrown out of the boat and land face down unconscious. 

 

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, MickD said:

Very good point.  After dumping my brother over one time, and trying to bring him back into the boat by his standing on the horizontal fin on the lower unit, we found it very difficult since his shoe was slipping on the fin.  I added some of that yellow "sandpaper" tape to the fin in case it ever happened again.  It is VERY difficult to get a person back into the boat.  My Lund dealer puts the ladder on every boat, and he expects it to be a requirement soon.

 

My son kids that I must always wear a PFD- he doesn't want to waste a lot of fishing time searching for the body.

Lund's Pro-V Bass boat features a pull out boarding ladder that is incorporated into the hull.

A-Jay

[Darren.]

I can swim. All my sons have been on/are on swim teams.

2 of 4 are life guards, and guard at the Coast Guard base

locally. We still always wear PFDs in our kayaks at all times.

On boats, it is more nuanced.

[Way north bass guy]

25 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Lund's Pro-V Bass boat features a pull out boarding ladder that is incorporated into the hull.

A-Jay

All Smokercrafts have something similar, not only are they great for a swim in the middle of the lake with the kids, but they can save lives. Far as I’m concerned, all boats should have something like this on them.