Crow Horse Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 I know (or hope) that most do wear one, but this is a good article about why to wear one...... Why Wear A Life Jacket 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Boomstick Posted January 31 Super User Share Posted January 31 The only time I didn't wear mine was when I forgot it. When I got maybe a hundred feet from shore, I realized I forgot it and went back to my truck to get it. It's actually beneficial for me because I can keep things like line cutters in the pockets anyway. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bird Posted January 31 Super User Share Posted January 31 Mine stays in the boat and won't start the boat without it, the lanyard reminds me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Horse Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 I did the same not once but twice. Both times I returned to the launch site to remove a layer of clothing and in a rush to get back on the the water I left my PFD with my jacket. I got a short way from the launch site and realized something was terribly wrong and then realized my howling error. I retrieved my PFD and all was well in the world. I'm lost without my PFD. It has most of my gear lashed to it and it's comfortable that I don't even notice that I'm wearing it. NRS Chinook (old style) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Horse Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 EDIT*** NOT Wearing a PFD is a pet peeve of mine. I see many people not wearing them. Drives me insane. One item that is rarely mentioned - I don't care if the water is warm or if the water is shallow and you can walk back to shore. If you have any type of medical emergency that incapacitates you, without a PFD you'll probably drown. A PFD will keep your head above water and you'll have the ability to breath. It gives you a fighting chance. If your body doesn't choose to breath, at least your body will be reasonably easy to locate and recover. Rant off.... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted January 31 Super User Share Posted January 31 30 minutes ago, Crow Horse said: Wearing a PFD is a pet peeve of mine. I see many people not wearing them. Drives me insane. Always wore it in the canoe And still always wear one even in Bass Trek 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susky River Rat Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 I always wear a life jacket while under power on my G3 no matter the conditions. I fish alone a lot. Even with someone I still wear it. My kill switch lanyard stays hooked up to it. If the worst would happen I do tell my wife where I am going and she has the ability to track my phone. Hopefully this is something she will never need to do. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GRiver Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Good article @Crow Horse. I wear one all the time, when I pull away from the dock, it’s on. I forget I have mine on most of the time. I fish by myself most of the time, and in remote areas. Anybody can make a “mistake” or have an “accident” 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJBasstard Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 I have one on 100% of the time I'm on the water. I'm also on a kayak and use my PFD to store my phone, scale, pliers, fish sticks, braid scissors, lighter, super glue and other odds and ends. I actually like having it on and would feel naked without it. Unfortunately it's rare I see others actually wear there's. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User gimruis Posted January 31 Super User Share Posted January 31 10 hours ago, Crow Horse said: I see many people not wearing them. Drives me insane. I see this a lot too. I see way more people not wearing them than actually wearing them too. I'm mostly talking about people in boats, both fishing and recreational watercraft. Most people I see in yaks have them on, but not all of them. It doesn't bother me. Everyone is an adult here and they can make their own decisions. They aren't required to be worn, so they are legal. I don't necessarily agree with it, but we all wake up every morning and make our own beds. Its like someone riding a motorcycle without a helmet. Perfectly legal in many states, just not very smart. The phrase often used around here is "watch your own bobber." The kill switch thing is something that does bother me though and is now required by law. If someone flies out of their boat while cruising, they've now turned it into a large, high speed piece of aluminum or fiberglass that might hit someone or something. Plus there's the prop to worry about that tends to slice things. I can certainly see why they mandated the use of them. I wear my PFD when my boat is on plane and the kill switch is attached. I take it off while I'm fishing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Swamp Girl Posted January 31 Super User Share Posted January 31 I always wear mine. I've spent aggregate years on big water, like Lakes Superior and Michigan and the Mississippi River in tiny boats, but a shallow bog down the road can kill me just as dead as a Great Lake or the Mighty Miss. Plus, I've seen boats dragging for a body more than once. Now, imagine someone who loves you identifying your body at the morgue once it's been lost underwater for days and then hooked and hauled to the surface. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greentrout Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted January 31 Super User Share Posted January 31 41 minutes ago, gimruis said: I can certainly see why they mandated the use of them. Unfortunately it's not retroactive - older motors are still not required to have it if it wasn't included at time of purchase. Saying that - I retro-fitted one into the 25hp on Bass Trek...it's not a difficult upgrade, and it's less than $50 for all the parts needed. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Horse Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 Wearing a PFD isn't a decision that affects only the wearer or non wearer. If one chooses to roll the bones and not wear one and things go sideways, now that decision impacts first responders and rescue or recovery efforts and family. Valuable resources might be consumed because of the protracted time that is needed for a recovery. Recovery efforts can also put responders at risk. I recognize the watch your own top knot perspective but this decision can have far reaching impacts. Like so many things in life, focusing on personal "rights" seems to be the dominant paradigm and our obligations to others seems to have little value. I disagree with that school of thought but that's how I roll. Yes, I am the PFD Nazi..... Spinning away from the PFD issue, how many people carry a first aid kit and a set of pliers capable of cutting a hook on their vessel? I carry a small FAK (with cutters) in my yak and have a huge FAK in my truck. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 31 Global Moderator Share Posted January 31 I’ve carried pliers on my boats as long as I can remember and none of them will cut a hook anymore , won’t even open and close 😂 they work a lot better when I keep them at home 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkmaster-k Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 I wear a PFD in the winter, but summertime is a different deal. A heat stroke is more likely than falling out of the boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Horse Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 15 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said: I’ve carried pliers on my boats as long as I can remember and none of them will cut a hook anymore , won’t even open and close 😂 they work a lot better when I keep them at home This might help. I keep mine in a zip lock bag with a Zerust "tab" (VCI) to prevent rust & corrosion. I keep my really good ones (Knipex) at home in my fishing tool box. \\ 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Horse Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 12 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said: I wear a PFD in the winter, but summertime is a different deal. A heat stroke is more likely than falling out of the boat. I think there are ways to combat the heat. I always wear a hat, a cooling towel around my neck, a long sleeve fishing shirt and keep hydrated and they have provided relief and even comfort in the searing heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted January 31 Global Moderator Share Posted January 31 Here’s how to beat the heat, ironically. Dressing up doesn’t do it for me 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaubsNU1 Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 Grew up across the street from a city pool...could probably swim before I walked. On swim-team, basically lived at the pool all summer long (and did NOT wear sunscreen back in the day...) On weekends our family would venture to the cabin, on the Platte River. Swam in the river, and sandpit all the time. I'm not a great swimmer, but pretty darn good. That said... When the big motor is running, my PFD is always on, and attached to the kill-switch. I do take it off when fishing. As I get older, and the balance goes...then the PFD will likely stay on 100% of the time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User Bankc Posted January 31 Super User Share Posted January 31 42 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said: I wear a PFD in the winter, but summertime is a different deal. A heat stroke is more likely than falling out of the boat. Actually, no, it's not. Between 300-1,700 people die of heat related causes in the U.S. each year. It varies wildly from year to year due to heat waves not being a consistent thing. And around 3,500-4,000 people drown every year. And keep in mind, there are a WHOLE LOT more people being exposed to high heat in this country every year than there are people being exposed to recreational water activities. Most of those heat related deaths are going to come from elderly people in very poor health to begin with. Now I'm not saying you should ignore the possibility of heat stroke. It's a real thing and something you should definitely try to avoid. But removing your PFD isn't a smart option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkmaster-k Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 My wife was overwhelmed with heat so I convinced her to pour water on her head. Whoops. We both learned a scary lesson that day. PFDs aren’t only uncomfortable in the dog days of summer , I think they’re dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super User MN Fisher Posted January 31 Super User Share Posted January 31 Despite having suffered both heat stroke and heat exhaustion in the past - I'd rather be hot than dead. 3 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crow Horse Posted January 31 Author Share Posted January 31 From the Mayo Clinic.... Treatment Heatstroke treatment centers on cooling your body to a normal temperature to prevent or reduce damage to your brain and vital organs. To do this, your doctor may take these steps: Immerse you in cold water. A bath of cold or ice water has been proved to be the most effective way of quickly lowering your core body temperature. The quicker you can receive cold water immersion, the less risk of death and organ damage. Use evaporation cooling techniques. If cold water immersion is unavailable, health care workers may try to lower your body temperature using an evaporation method. Cool water is misted on your body while warm air is fanned over you, causing the water to evaporate and cool your skin. Pack you with ice and cooling blankets. Another method is to wrap you in a special cooling blanket and apply ice packs to your groin, neck, back and armpits to lower your temperature. Give you medications to stop your shivering. If treatments to lower your body temperature make you shiver, your doctor may give you a muscle relaxant, such as a benzodiazepine. Shivering increases your body temperature, making treatment less effective. If you notice signs of heat-related illness, lower your body temperature and prevent your condition from progressing to heatstroke. In a lesser heat emergency, such as heat cramps or heat exhaustion, the following steps may lower your body temperature: Get to a shady or air-conditioned place. If you don't have air conditioning at home, go someplace with air conditioning, such as the mall, movie theater or public library. Cool off with damp sheets and a fan. If you're with someone who's experiencing heat-related symptoms, cool the person by covering him or her with damp sheets or by spraying with cool water. Direct air onto the person with a fan. Take a cool shower or bath. If you're outdoors and not near shelter, soaking in a cool pond or stream can help bring your temperature down. Rehydrate. Drink plenty of fluids. Also, because you lose salt through sweating, you can replenish salt and water with some sports drinks. If your doctor has restricted your fluid or salt intake, check with him or her to see how much you should drink and whether you should replace salt. Don't drink sugary or alcoholic beverages to rehydrate. These drinks may interfere with your body's ability to control your temperature. Also, very cold drinks can cause stomach cramps. 11 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said: My wife was overwhelmed with heat so I convinced her to pour water on her head. Whoops. We both learned a scary lesson that day. PFDs aren’t only uncomfortable in the dog days of summer , I think they’re dangerous. What happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunkmaster-k Posted January 31 Share Posted January 31 She went into shock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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