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Posts: 271
Location: davis,IL | I guess its getting the time of the year to bring this up again. But... fishing can be a hazzard to your health! First off, prep your boat with a basic medical kit .. bandaids, bandages, antiseptic ointment, and a hook remover kit. Also carry a couple towels to dry off with, and some basic back up clothing(2 rain suits) underwear etc....
. Second... I can't stress this enough, if your boat does not have a boarding ladder.... add one (trying to crawl over the transom when in wet clothes sucks )! We all want to go out there and tear it up, catch that fish of a life time. But accidents can happen....and often times, when we least expect. So leave a little storage space for the unexpected, (lures are cheap in the long run) protect yourself and your boat companions, plan ahead for the worst.
Edited by muskydope 3/19/2016 2:41 AM
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Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | I am so glad this post got started.
On my boat I have a rope type ladder tied to the back of the boat. You simple reach in and pull the rope out and climb in.
I also wear an inflatable life jacket. (I still can hear the CO2 cartridge going off when I needed it). Yup, I had it on and reach down to pull up the TM and a wave came at the same time and out I went. That day would have turned out much different if I didn't have it on, they work......
I also want to add to turn you boat lights on.
The is here, have a good day.  |
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Posts: 390
| A good trick to remember if you do not have a rope/ladder and someone falls out is to have them stand on the anti ventilation plate above the propeller and hold on to the motor. Then use the hydraulic trim and raise them up until they are level with the back of the boat and help them on. I have seen this technique work to help a elderly gentlemen that had fallen out of a boat in GB on a not so great fall day. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | jumper cables, a power pack and/or a spare charged battery if your boat is going out alone in extreme conditions. i almost learned this one the hard way. |
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Posts: 163
| bbeaupre - 3/19/2016 9:07 AM
A good trick to remember if you do not have a rope/ladder and someone falls out is to have them stand on the anti ventilation plate above the propeller and hold on to the motor. Then use the hydraulic trim and raise them up until they are level with the back of the boat and help them on. I have seen this technique work to help a elderly gentlemen that had fallen out of a boat in GB on a not so great fall day.
This is the plan i've always dreamed i'd try. |
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Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | I'd strongly suggest everyone that fishes in your boat conduct a man over board drill. When I started sailing Lake Michigan our protocol was to spend an afternoon doing just that. Once water temps allow, each crew member while fully dressed with pfd, boots and rain gear for early or late season conditions (ie cold) goes over board. Not many people have ever experienced this. It's not what most would expect. You'll quickly see where practice drills are a great benefit under controlled conditions. Does your 5 year old know what to do if you get thrown over board and it's just the two of you? Teach them what/where you're kill switch is. Can they call for help on vhf radio? Think of it as teaching your kids to call 911 for home emergencies.I go through emergency equip with all first times too kind of like the airplane flotation device routine that most people seem to be"bothered" by.
Edited by KARLOUTDOORS 3/20/2016 11:54 AM
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| Very important thread. I just started putting together a new first aid kit, using some suggestions I got in response to a thread I started earlier in the winternet season.
The idea of practicing is important. And remember, the water is not always a balmy 70 degrees. It is amazing how quickly cold water saps your strength. Back in the 90s, I decided while on a camping trip to see how long I could swim in Lake Superior. Air temps were upper 70s but water was 50 at most. For over 20 years, I swam on my lunch hour, at least 3 days a week and about 3/4 mile each time. Well, in that cold water I swam parallel to the shore and made it less than 10 minutes. My muscles ached with fatigue and began to fail. If my life had been in danger, I could have made it a little longer but not much. I knew going in it would be difficult but did not anticipate how quickly I tired. It was an eye opener and one of the reasons I always wear an inflatable PFD when fishing when the water is cool. |
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Posts: 8866
| Boots, long underwear, wool socks, fleece, insulated rain gear, gloves, hat, etc... I've never tried going in the water wearing all of that, but something tells me you'd probably sink like a rock without a life jacket. |
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Posts: 410
Location: With my son on the water | About 25 years ago at our fishing club we did a pool side demo and had a guy put on a snowmobile suit and boots. We harnessed him up and attached a rope and he VOLUNTEERED (remember Dave) to jump in. Even with a life jacket he sunk like a rock in less than 30 seconds. The scary part was it took about 5 guys to pull him out.
Edited by btfish 3/25/2016 10:33 AM
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| One of the first things to do if you go in with heavy boots on is to kick them off. Learned that in junior life savings class many years ago. They fill with water and are like anchors on your feet. In late fall I sometimes wear an old pair of Sorels for warmth but lace them loose enough that I could get them off if I had to without untying them.
Many years ago in Canada, a good friend went over the side while running the gas out of the motor. He hit a submerged log and flew over the side. The thing that saved him was a floating cushion also flew out. He couldn't see it because he lost his glasses, but I yelled to him where it was and he only had to go a couple feet. I swam out a ways and helped him to shore but without that cushion, he would have drowned. It was late fall and had insulated rubber boots that laced up well onto his calves and he said he would never wear them in a boat again. We were in our early twenties, he was very fit and athletic but all those clothes and the boots would have been his ending if not for the cushion. |
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | Hey you guys - all of you-THANK YOU... for this thread.
I'm one of the "Meh, that's for the guy with his head up his ---"...guys! Not anymore!
I have a low-slung bass-boat type Ranger. No gunnels!
I'm going to use this topic this season. I printed out some major notes! Thank you again!!!
Edited by Jeremy 3/25/2016 11:28 AM
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Posts: 3926
| On jumping into a MO mine pit with the water in the high 30s...Once that cold water hit I watched my body freak out, limbs numb and hard to move and I couldn't breath because the all the muscles in my torso locked up. Had I caught water in my lungs I couldn't have caughed it out. Took me 10 long seconds to climb out and then 10 later I could sorta breath again.
My new boat has a boarding ladder. If I drop in the cold drink I'll have a few seconds to grab the ladder and a few more to pull myself into the boat. Those polar plunge people could do lots better but not me, 20 or so seconds in and I would have a very hard time getting up the ladder.
If the boat were underway, even just wind drift, well see ya in the next life.
Trick is to not fall out. Marathon guys doing figure 8s on a deck in wind over cold water are nuts.
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Posts: 786
| Great thread. I would just like to add, if you have a boat kill switch, don't forget to attach it to your vest. It only takes a second. My boat probably tops out at 38mph. How fast can u approach an un-scene obstruction just under the surface, strike it and wind up in the drink. Your in the water, but your boat keeps going..... not good. kDAWG |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | "Practice!" Then practice some more!
There is no such thing as to little preparedness> Have a plan!
Have fun!
Al
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Posts: 8866
| Ranger - 4/14/2016 12:26 PM
[...]
Trick is to not fall out. Marathon guys doing figure 8s on a deck in wind over cold water are nuts.
We've done that a few times. Last time was the last time. Dropped to my knees to figure 8 a fish because I literally could not stand in the wind and waves. Even on my knees I almost went in. Not worth risking your life... |
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