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| Guys, two words: kill switch cord and life jackets.
My brother in law was up for a visit and he and I were in the shop late this afternoon fixing a water pump that I use to water my lawn. My wife came screaming up from the lake, two guys in the water, one hanging on to a boat going in circles under power.
We jumped in my pontoon and took a chance, wedging a pontoon log against the side of the transom and my brother in law threw them life jackets. He grabbed their bow rope and I grabbed one on the transom, I pulled, he got it in neutral and I hit the kill switch.
We got them on board using the pontoon ladder and thankfully, miracously they both were fine, other then wet. They were not sure what happened, they had just left the launch across the bay. Middle aged guys, not reckless kids.
But neither had a pfd on, and their older motor did not have a kill switch. I will never run my 90 hp tiller without the kill switch attached to my belt again. I always have an inflatable pfd on when under power.
The one guy was hanging on to the side as the boat went round and round for the 3 or 4 minutes it took me to get there, less than four feet from the spinning prop.
Every one was lucky today, the next time might well be different. |
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Posts: 859
Location: MN | Good advise, my wife got me my first boat asked only 3 things of me at the time of purchase.
1. Max out the HP
2. Always have a life jacket on when under power
3. Use the kill switch.
I have always honored that request even if it’s 1 minute ride. |
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Posts: 213
Location: FIB land | Thanks N o 8 |
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Posts: 34
| Rob Dirdeck Dyrdek
Edited by Unionski 6/15/2018 2:45 AM
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Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | Add one more item.
Turn the BOAT LIGHTS on. |
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Posts: 255
| I have to admit I am always saying, "won't happen to me", but I really don't want to be a worthless headline on the news someday. goes for snowmobiling as well. "Father of three dead in very stupid accident he could have avoided" |
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Location: 31 | About 10 years ago a friend asked me why I always wear a life jacket… I simply asked him why he didn't wear one. It becomes as automatic as a seat belt.
Nice job on the rescue! |
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Posts: 688
Location: Already Gone | Things happen fast sometimes...good advice.
I have invested in enough inflatable vests for anyone that's with me, and I nicely insist on them being worn.
Nice work John!! |
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Posts: 73
Location: Cedarburg, WI | Thank you for taking the chance and ending this emergency. It could have been me.
This is an excellent reminder for me. Simple things, but haven't done them in the past. Will be getting a self-inflating vest, and digging out the kill switch lanyard. Thanks Again.
Edited by Softwater 6/15/2018 11:29 AM
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| Mark Hoerich - 6/15/2018 11:18 AM
Things happen fast sometimes...good advice.
I have invested in enough inflatable vests for anyone that's with me, and I nicely insist on them being worn.
Nice work John!!
We were lucky, very lucky. Would not wish to repeat. |
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Posts: 1126
Location: Minnesota. | Thank you N of 8. I'm already beating myself up b/c like 95% of everyone here I know I'll ignore this....I just know it. And I'm 68!
You did a real service helping those guys, thank you!!
Food for thought dammit.....I hate all the safety regs etc. But...
Edited by Jeremy 6/16/2018 10:34 AM
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Posts: 20178
Location: oswego, il | I know i should be better at safety as well. I do keep a throwable out when on lake michigan. You cannot predict circumstances. Crazy things can happen out of literally nowhere. |
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Location: 31 | ToddM - 6/16/2018 11:27 AM I know i should be better at safety as well. I do keep a throwable out when on lake michigan. You cannot predict circumstances. Crazy things can happen out of literally nowhere. A few years back I was checked and then warned by the Coast Guard to keep the throwable handy and not under stuff at the bottom of a compartment... should keep it handy all the time. |
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Posts: 14
| I was emptying our fishing boat with the plug out last weekend or so like I have a thousand times. As I was putting the plug in I didn't slow down much and a random wind from the north hit me and I lost control. The boat, plug out and all went away and then I woke up underwater seeing it circling above me slowly. I panicked when I finally got to the surface and my clothes were weighing me down. I was 100yds from the closest shore and still had the plug on my finger and screamed for help but saved my breath and swam like a mermaid on my back with my belt and pants caught around my ankles. Ran down the shoreline and jumped off a dock to catch the boat and finish emptying er out. Went straight home. Lost a lot but not my life and I have this EXACT same thought after it. Safety first. I thought this post was about me but no one was around suprisingly. |
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