Best advice for a new boater.....

[Fish Chris]

My friend / neighbor just bought a new boat (well an older, used 12ft aluminum, but new to him). In fact, I went and towed it home for him, as he didn't have a hitch on his truck yet.

So right away he starts asking me about anchors, motor stuff, trailering, etc, etc.

I just told him, "WAIT" !!! Before you ask any of this stuff, the most important thing I can tell you, is get yourself an inflatable style lifejacket.....

To which he immediatly replies, "Well, I have some of the big, bulky oldschool kind.... you know.. the bright orange ones.......

So I tell him, "Alright, so your choices will be to either A) Be more uncomfortable all day, than you can possibly imagine, or just have your life jacket in the boat with you, taking up space (quite valuable space in a 12ft aluminum) and not being even "half" as effective as a PFD that your actually wearing at all times. > If people expected to end up in the water, it wouldn't be called an accident !!! <

Next he says, "Well we are not really going to take the boat out if its windy and rough"........

DUDE !!!! Almost NEVER does somebody go out when it's alrerady rough enough to be dangerous. But sometimes it just has a way of sneaking up on your arse in a big hurry !

I then go on to try to convey a little bit of the straight up "primal fear" {you know.... when its starts feeling like your blood is getting cold} that I've experienced about 6 times in the last 10 or so years ! NEVER did I expect to get caught in water like that ! Or else I'd have never launched the freaking boat in the first place ! ......and I'd like to think I know what I'm doing, but sometimes $#!+ just happens !

Anyway, I've talked to him a couple times since we picked up his boat last week, and each time I start out with... "Have your ordered your inflatable PFD yet" ?

Also, I've reminded him, that having 3 kids, like he does, drowning is not an option.

What else can I say, but be safe out their,

And be smart about it,

Drownings are not acceptable.

Peace,

Fish

[flechero]

Right on, Chris.... even for the most stubborn, the rules change when you have children. I believe you give up your right to be reckless the day your wife becomes pregnant (if you didn't already when you got married).

I doubt any drowning victim ever went to the lake expecting it.

[jimmieO]

I believe you give up your right to be reckless the day your wife becomes pregnant (if you didn't already when you got married).

Smartest/Most true thing I've ever heard anyone say!

[Sam]

PUT THE PLUG IN THE BOAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME.

     

[J Francho]

A good PFD that you'll actually wear is important.  Putting the plug in is pretty good advice too, LOL.  I used to attach mine to the boat keyring.  You'll remember you forgot when you go to start the boat.

[done]

1. Find the thread in here on Ramp rules and have him learn them.

2. If he will, push him towards taking the Coast Guard boating class. It teaches you stuff which can save your life. There are too many people out on the water that know absolutely nothing about the rules on the water.

3. Life jackets:

  - Bright sunny day, lake life glass, he is cruising at full  throttle, suddenly he hits a 4x10 beam that was floating just beneath the surface. I have seen these in Lake Wylie before, did not hit them but by the grace of God and had I, I would have been in the water before I knew I hit anything.  

 - There was a topic on here not long ago where to guys hit a submerged stump and were throw from their boat and both drowned.

 

  I could fill this thing up with stories. Point is, you wear the jacket for the things you cannot imagine. It is not like the Titanic where he would hit an iceberg then get 2 hours to put his life jacket on. Many times, thing go from "dude this is awesome." to "Holy @^#$%@" so fast you would not have time to think about putting the life jacket on.

   Keep working on him. You are being a good friend for trying to impress this upon him.

[Fish Chris]

Right on. Thanks guys.

Ya' know, their are some things I just wouldn't wish on "anybody", and drowning in a boat accident is one of them.

Hey BTW, only a couple hours after I posted this, I got my brand new Stearns inflatable MAX 4 HD camo PFD, in the mail :-) Perfect timing, as I will be on the water for the next 4 days ! Whoo Hoo ! :-)

Only $89 from BassPro. It's not "auto" inflatable (pull cord only) but then that means it should not deploy from just getting wet. Of course neither will the Mustang brands with the hydrostatic trigger...... But then those are like $250 to $400 each ! Yikes !

Peace,

Fish