I like to follow the BSA rules for afloat when by myself....and everything is attached to something so I don't lose it. BSA rules require (as well as the coast guard) a floatation device for every person on a boat. Now, the loop idea for a foothold is a good thing and should have been first thing in your mind. Glad you made it back.
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Old Fart Survival
- Thread starter MikeH
- Start date
- Joined
- Jul 6, 2010
- Messages
- 807
willseeyalater... IIRC .. they all had PFDs but pretty rough chop (6 or 8')... the boat was swamped or possibly overturned, and they tried to stay with it... hypothermia (even in Florida) caused the 3 to not be able to hold on...I guess it just wasn't his time... don't think the 3 were ever recovered
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2008
- Messages
- 1,079
Mike, sounds like a bad day that could have gotten worse. Way to keep your head. I dont know about older though, I hunt elk with a couple brothers in their late sixties and I'd put those guys up against probably half of all 30 and under guys that you see around town, just plain tough and in shape, and experienced to "keep their heads" through just about anything.
Great story, but have you thought about a rope ladder atached to the boat along with the vest? maybe mount a piece of 4" pvc along the top rail of the boat somewhere and roll up a simple rope ladder a couple feet long and stow it in the pipe so lures and such dont get tangled in it with a cap that has a good handle. If you fall in again, or someone else does, just reach over the side, pop the cap, pull out the ladder and up you go.
Great story, but have you thought about a rope ladder atached to the boat along with the vest? maybe mount a piece of 4" pvc along the top rail of the boat somewhere and roll up a simple rope ladder a couple feet long and stow it in the pipe so lures and such dont get tangled in it with a cap that has a good handle. If you fall in again, or someone else does, just reach over the side, pop the cap, pull out the ladder and up you go.
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2007
- Messages
- 1,976
Thanks for shareing, and surviving. I've hade to rethink the way I do things a lot lately. Physical fitness is important, mental fitness is more important.
- Joined
- Jun 4, 2011
- Messages
- 1,004
Great story, :thumbup::thumbup:! Glad you came through unscathed and that you learned something. I am half your age and have to remind myself all the time that "I'm not 18 anymore." 
