11-09-2006, 07:52 PM
The media is reporting that three of the victims at Strawberry grabbed life jackets, and one was clinging to a fuel can. Makes me wonder if there were only three jackets on board. And what about a throwable? Boat may have been overloaded, as well? Preservers may not have saved them in the cold water, but they sure would have helped if they were fastened.
Having said that:
I'm as guilty as anyone about WEARING my life jacket, even though I have 4 on-board, and several throwables at the ready. I've only actually put one on about 5 or 6 times on the Gorge in my 20' Lund, and that was crossing a large bay by myself in water I shouldn't have been on anyway. I do wear one in my pontoon on lakes and rivers. Although I've heard of countless boating-related drownings in my life, this latest one is an eye opener for me for some reason.
It seems really stupid of me not to wear one, especially since I'm on water over 200-250 days a year, and have been all of my adult life. And, I see a fair share of boaters each year, and very few are wearing preservers. I'm a firm believer in seat belts on the highway, so why not on the water?
Mechanical problems such as loss of steering, loss of control due to cavitation, or striking an underwater object at high speeds can also cause loss of control and capsizing. It doesn't need to be windy. That's why they call them "accidents."
My lame excuses are that they're hot in the summer, the water isn't that cold then, I'm a hell of a swimmer, and there's always other boats around. In the winter, I can't fit one over the 6 layers of clothes I have on. Besides, I've never had a boating wreck or accident! LAME EXCUSES I've been using all my life. When I was a kid though, my dad always MADE me wear one.
I don't know the exact numbers, but I bet there aren't many drownings when people are actually wearing their life jackets. Maybe its time we all wear the darn things when the boat is underway?
In Florida, there's already talk of a "life jacket law", requiring them to be worn by everyone anytime a boat is underway. Seat belts are required in every state. Maybe we can all just do it so lawmakers won't have to?
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Having said that:
I'm as guilty as anyone about WEARING my life jacket, even though I have 4 on-board, and several throwables at the ready. I've only actually put one on about 5 or 6 times on the Gorge in my 20' Lund, and that was crossing a large bay by myself in water I shouldn't have been on anyway. I do wear one in my pontoon on lakes and rivers. Although I've heard of countless boating-related drownings in my life, this latest one is an eye opener for me for some reason.
It seems really stupid of me not to wear one, especially since I'm on water over 200-250 days a year, and have been all of my adult life. And, I see a fair share of boaters each year, and very few are wearing preservers. I'm a firm believer in seat belts on the highway, so why not on the water?
Mechanical problems such as loss of steering, loss of control due to cavitation, or striking an underwater object at high speeds can also cause loss of control and capsizing. It doesn't need to be windy. That's why they call them "accidents."
My lame excuses are that they're hot in the summer, the water isn't that cold then, I'm a hell of a swimmer, and there's always other boats around. In the winter, I can't fit one over the 6 layers of clothes I have on. Besides, I've never had a boating wreck or accident! LAME EXCUSES I've been using all my life. When I was a kid though, my dad always MADE me wear one.
I don't know the exact numbers, but I bet there aren't many drownings when people are actually wearing their life jackets. Maybe its time we all wear the darn things when the boat is underway?
In Florida, there's already talk of a "life jacket law", requiring them to be worn by everyone anytime a boat is underway. Seat belts are required in every state. Maybe we can all just do it so lawmakers won't have to?
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