Another tragedy, another reminder....

[Darren.]

Local tragedy here in Yorktown, VA over the weekend.

 

My eldest son knew two of these men. The survivor,

and one of those who didn't make it.

 

Details not fully known, appears, but not confirmed,

that life vests were not worn. Hypothermia set in 

quickly with water temps.

 

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/two-men-missing-after-going-canoeing-overnight-in-york-county/

 

USCG Captain expressed it this way, emphasis mine:

 

“We extend our deepest condolences to all of those family members and friends who are affected during this difficult time,” Carroll said. “We always try to impress the importance of safety equipment, even something as simple as wearing a life jacket, so that we can help assist you.”

[SuperDuty]

Very sad indeed. No sense in not having a pdf with you at all times. 600 yards is easily swimable too. 

[A-Jay]

Very Sad.

 

Highlights the importance of threads like this . . .

A-Jay

 

[Darren.]

33 minutes ago, SuperDuty said:

Very sad indeed. No sense in not having a pdf with you at all times. 600 yards is easily swimable too. 

I'd say not for everyone. 600 yards is a long way in 40º +/- water.

The man who survived did swim with my son on a swim team...not

sure the others.

36 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

Very Sad.

 

Highlights the importance of threads like this . . .

A-Jay

 

Among many other threads over the years. Too many.

[tander]

Sad to hear something like this, possibly could have been prevented. I know they were in a canoe but also remember to hook up your kill switch if your running an outboard.

[MN Fisher]

17 minutes ago, tander said:

I know they were in a canoe

Canoe, kayak, boat...doesn't matter - WEAR YOUR BLOODY PFD.

 

Mine goes on before I get in the canoe, doesn't come off until I land.

[flyfisher]

Preventable deaths are always painful but hopefully serve as a reminder to those who think it can't happen to them.  Cold water is no joke and is something I have a healthy respect for, especially as a kayak angler.  

[tander]

2 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

Canoe, kayak, boat...doesn't matter - WEAR YOUR BLOODY PFD.

 

Mine goes on before I get in the canoe, doesn't come off until I land.

I agree, my meaning was to imply that is know canoes don't have kill switches!!!!

[813basstard]

Yeah.

Wear them.

I know you can swim. But you can’t swim when your unconscious or panicking. Put that d**n thing on. 
 

Terrible 

[DogBone_384]

18 hours ago, SuperDuty said:

600 yards is easily swimable too.

I responded to the call linked below.  This woman was roughly 600 - 1000 yards off shore.  Myself and another Firefighter were going to swim out to her in Mustang suits but the State police boat was close by and got her with the aid of another Trooper in a kayak.

 

She was only breathing a few times a minute and her core temp was in the low 80's when we got her off the SP boat and into the ambulance.

 

My point is that PFD's are a MUST, and the average person w/o proper gear isn't likely to be able to swim a long distance in cold water.

 

My prayers go out to the families involved.

 

 

[SuperDuty]

I've never been in very cold water like that so didn't/don't know how it effects you, or how quickly. I was just thinking how easy 600 yards would be to swim in a few minutes. 

[Bluebasser86]

Man, I'm a good swimmer, but 600 yards, 6 football fields, in cold water, I don't know that I'd make that. You're talking a quarter mile swim that you're not dressed or prepared to make. Add in a little chop or current to beat you down some, a tough proposition just got a lot harder. When I flipped my yak in March a few years ago it was in the 40's but warm outside and dead calm. I was still glad I had my PFD on.

[SuperDuty]

I did a mile and half in the ocean in aircrew survival school. Guess that's why a 1/4 mile seems easily doable to me. But the real cold water may play a huge part.

 

So let's hear the story how you flipped your yak on dead calm water ?

[Bluebasser86]

6 minutes ago, SuperDuty said:

I did a mile and half in the ocean in aircrew survival school. Guess that's why a 1/4 mile seems easily doable to me. But the real cold water may play a huge part.

 

So let's hear the story how you flipped your yak on dead calm water ?

Stumps and a 75lb Golden Retriever that wanted to investigate those stumps while I was trying to retrieve a lure off the top of them. Was not a good combination. Cost me a phone, a Garmin Virb Elite camera, a spinning rod, and some tackle, and a whole bunch of my pride since it was trout opener so there was no shortage of spectators.

[SuperDuty]

Oh man that sucks!! I bet some hard lessons were learned that day though. Lol

 

What yak was it?

[Goose52]

19 hours ago, tander said:

I agree, my meaning was to imply that is know canoes don't have kill switches!!!!

Well - most canoes don't have kill switches. BUT, since I stand 100% of the time I am fishing in my canoe, even when it's under power, I do have a form of kill switch. If my foot comes off this switch, the TM stops and at least my boat isn't motoring away from me if I fall in the drink.

 

 

And yep, I put the PFD on before launch, and don't take it off until back on shore...

[MN Fisher]

4 minutes ago, Goose52 said:

Well - most canoes don't have kill switches. BUT, since I stand 100% of the time I am fishing in my canoe, even when it's under power, I do have a form of kill switch. If my foot comes off this switch, the TM stops and at least my boat isn't motoring away from me if I fall in the drink.

 

 

Is that switch rigged on the main power run? I think I may want to add one to my rig.

 

5 minutes ago, Goose52 said:

And yep, I put the PFD on before launch, and don't take it off until back on shore...

My hero...

[TnRiver46]

There's an island 200 yards from my dock and it's one heck of a tough swim there and back. And I'm part fish. Always use PFD when going canoeing in the ocean at 11:30 pm in the dead of winter. What the world were they doing???

[Goose52]

On 1/29/2020 at 11:09 AM, MN Fisher said:

Is that switch rigged on the main power run? I think I may want to add one to my rig.

Yes. I use Anderson SB50 connectors at the end of my cable run from the forward mounted battery (photo) and the same connector on my two different trolling motors.  The pushbutton "kill switch" is optional and has two SB50 connectors so I can plug it in between the battery cables and the TM cables.

 

In addition to the safety aspect of having this switch - it also has a practical fishing function in that I often motor along at slow speed, casting as I go - if I get a strike, I don't have to reach over to the TM to cut power, I just take my foot off the switch to kill the TM so I can concentrate on getting the fish hooked up...

 

[Bluebasser86]

On 1/29/2020 at 6:00 AM, SuperDuty said:

Oh man that sucks!! I bet some hard lessons were learned that day though. Lol

 

What yak was it?

Ocean Kayak Big Game Prowler II

[schplurg]

On 1/29/2020 at 9:10 AM, TnRiver46 said:

There's an island 200 yards from my dock and it's one heck of a tough swim there and back. And I'm part fish. Always use PFD when going canoeing in the ocean at 11:30 pm in the dead of winter. What the world were they doing???

 

My guess would be drinking.

[Ratherbefishing75]

I like the dead man switch idea   I pack my canoe up in late September and stay on the banks until April 

[SuperDuty]

On 2/3/2020 at 10:11 PM, schplurg said:

 

My guess would be drinking.

My thoughts too. I did a mile and half swim in the ocean when I went through air crew survival training in the navy. 200 yards I could do in my sleep. 

[Darren.]

1 hour ago, SuperDuty said:

My thoughts too. I did a mile and half swim in the ocean when I went through air crew survival training in the navy. 200 yards I could do in my sleep. 

Just remember we still don't know what was involved here.

 

We do know these boys, at least one, the survivor, was a strong

swimmer. Swam with my eldest son on high school swim team.

 

Other two boys allegedly decided to stay at canoe so said one

who survived to one of my son's buds who all were friends with.

One of those deceased was a marine biologist.

 

Whatever the situation (drinking still unknown), two died. One didn't.

They likely didn't have military survival training, as most of us don't.

 

I envy that you can swim 200 yards in your sleep. I wish we all could,

especially in 45º water. I imagine the parents of the two lost ones wish

the same.

[SuperDuty]

7 hours ago, Darren. said:

Just remember we still don't know what was involved here.

 

We do know these boys, at least one, the survivor, was a strong

swimmer. Swam with my eldest son on high school swim team.

 

Other two boys allegedly decided to stay at canoe so said one

who survived to one of my son's buds who all were friends with.

One of those deceased was a marine biologist.

 

Whatever the situation (drinking still unknown), two died. One didn't.

They likely didn't have military survival training, as most of us don't.

 

I envy that you can swim 200 yards in your sleep. I wish we all could,

especially in 45º water. I imagine the parents of the two lost ones wish

the same.

My post was in response to tnrivers post about a 200 yard swim to an island being tough. That's assuming he's done it in ideal situations and not 40 degree temps. ?