- Joined
- Aug 1, 2006
- Messages
- 1,506
I wanted to share my experience on Lake Erie this past weekend that has once again reaffirmed my personal outlook on the places and types of knives I carry in every situation.
Some background: I'm a 17-year-old Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 106, chartered to Bucyrus, Ohio. Many of you know this---I've posted about it numerous times on the threads, my trips to Philmont, my knife experiences as a Scout, etc. My family owns a condo and cottage on Lake Erie (Port Clinton and Marblehead, respectively) and has several boats. This weekend, I was on our 16-foot rigid-hull inflatable Zodiac boat. Several years ago I received my ODNR Boater's License. This is something that runs in my family---my father was a world champion offshore powerboat racer but has recently retired due to an unfair shuffling of the classes in GLOPRA races.
We were out on the lake on Sunday, a beautiful, clear day with only small cloud formations moving in from the northeast by way of Canada and Pelee Island. I was pulling my younger brother on a BPR SeaDoo inflatable tube by way of red, high-tensile strength nylon cord attached to the stern pylon. My girlfriend was acting as spotter. I wore a Type II offshore personal floatation device with my Spyderco Atlantic Salt attached; my two passengers wore Type III sport-adapted PFDs.
We were moving along at a relatively high rate of speed [for tubing, about 25 miles per hour] and executing a left-hand turn near the shore to head back in the direction of our condo. A sharp gust of wind and a large wave from the wake combined to flip over the tube, usually an adrenalin-pumping, electrifying experience for the tuber. Impact with the water causes no pain (unless you "belly-smack") and just a slight rush. The tuber generally resurfaces about twenty yards behind, faceup, in perfect position to retrieve. This time, it was not the case.
The large amount of air caused by both the up-draft and the trough of the wave allowed the tube to become airborne, and slack to get in the line. As the passengers of the tube are seated towards the rear, with their feet next to the line, this can be dangerous. My brother's ankle became entangled in the line, and the pressure of the wrap probably could've broke it. What was more critical was that he was being dragged behind the boat, with his upper body (torso and head) going into and out of the water. I immediately killed the throttle, and turned backwards to cut the rope on the opposite pylon, giving the rope total slack from both the boat and current. My Atlantic Salt was in my hands and after a short stumble in opening it, I sliced the thick rope easily with the serrated blade and circled the boat quickly, jumping into the water to examine the condition of my brother. I quickly cut out the rope from around him, but in the process lost my Atlantic Salt in the deeper water because of my shaking hands.
Thankfully, he was still conscious and unhurt, his ankle rubbed raw by the rough nylon rope. He had some bruising and contusing on his shoulder from where he first hit the water, and a little "rug burn" caused from the friction of his impacts elsewhere. Otherwise, he was okay---no sign of concussion, no intake of water, cuts, broken bones, etc. We quickly returned to shore where my mother, an ICU nurse with over twenty years of experience, gave him a quick once-over. He was okay.
This is the type of action shows that the "Be Prepared" mindset can always be useful, effective, and life-giving. Even in the most fun of daily tasks---like tubing with your loved ones on your day off---it is important to be prepared to save their lives, or your own. I was lucky that I was prepared, and that everyone came out okay. If I hadn't followed my own Scout Motto, things could have turned out very differently. I was lucky to have my Spyderco with me---although I'll have to go buy another one now. A knife in exchange for the life of a loved one is a small price to pay.
Just wanted to help get the point across---being prepared can become a big deal when you least expect it.
God bless.
KATN,
Wade
Some background: I'm a 17-year-old Life Scout with Boy Scout Troop 106, chartered to Bucyrus, Ohio. Many of you know this---I've posted about it numerous times on the threads, my trips to Philmont, my knife experiences as a Scout, etc. My family owns a condo and cottage on Lake Erie (Port Clinton and Marblehead, respectively) and has several boats. This weekend, I was on our 16-foot rigid-hull inflatable Zodiac boat. Several years ago I received my ODNR Boater's License. This is something that runs in my family---my father was a world champion offshore powerboat racer but has recently retired due to an unfair shuffling of the classes in GLOPRA races.
We were out on the lake on Sunday, a beautiful, clear day with only small cloud formations moving in from the northeast by way of Canada and Pelee Island. I was pulling my younger brother on a BPR SeaDoo inflatable tube by way of red, high-tensile strength nylon cord attached to the stern pylon. My girlfriend was acting as spotter. I wore a Type II offshore personal floatation device with my Spyderco Atlantic Salt attached; my two passengers wore Type III sport-adapted PFDs.
We were moving along at a relatively high rate of speed [for tubing, about 25 miles per hour] and executing a left-hand turn near the shore to head back in the direction of our condo. A sharp gust of wind and a large wave from the wake combined to flip over the tube, usually an adrenalin-pumping, electrifying experience for the tuber. Impact with the water causes no pain (unless you "belly-smack") and just a slight rush. The tuber generally resurfaces about twenty yards behind, faceup, in perfect position to retrieve. This time, it was not the case.
The large amount of air caused by both the up-draft and the trough of the wave allowed the tube to become airborne, and slack to get in the line. As the passengers of the tube are seated towards the rear, with their feet next to the line, this can be dangerous. My brother's ankle became entangled in the line, and the pressure of the wrap probably could've broke it. What was more critical was that he was being dragged behind the boat, with his upper body (torso and head) going into and out of the water. I immediately killed the throttle, and turned backwards to cut the rope on the opposite pylon, giving the rope total slack from both the boat and current. My Atlantic Salt was in my hands and after a short stumble in opening it, I sliced the thick rope easily with the serrated blade and circled the boat quickly, jumping into the water to examine the condition of my brother. I quickly cut out the rope from around him, but in the process lost my Atlantic Salt in the deeper water because of my shaking hands.
Thankfully, he was still conscious and unhurt, his ankle rubbed raw by the rough nylon rope. He had some bruising and contusing on his shoulder from where he first hit the water, and a little "rug burn" caused from the friction of his impacts elsewhere. Otherwise, he was okay---no sign of concussion, no intake of water, cuts, broken bones, etc. We quickly returned to shore where my mother, an ICU nurse with over twenty years of experience, gave him a quick once-over. He was okay.
This is the type of action shows that the "Be Prepared" mindset can always be useful, effective, and life-giving. Even in the most fun of daily tasks---like tubing with your loved ones on your day off---it is important to be prepared to save their lives, or your own. I was lucky that I was prepared, and that everyone came out okay. If I hadn't followed my own Scout Motto, things could have turned out very differently. I was lucky to have my Spyderco with me---although I'll have to go buy another one now. A knife in exchange for the life of a loved one is a small price to pay.
Just wanted to help get the point across---being prepared can become a big deal when you least expect it.
God bless.
KATN,
Wade
Last edited:
