quote:Originally posted by KoneZone
I use the Stearns full coat life jacket when I fish. It serves as a great coat and a floatation devise in case I take an un expected dip. I talked with a "Coastie" , Coatsguardsmen and he stated that 90 % of the drowning victims recovered that are male have one thing in common. Yep their fly's are open. Be smart and [B)]Pee smart. More poeple drown on sunny days than on stormy days. Any way I thought I would see what you guys are using. If I could afford it I would use an inflatable like Mustang.
Actually, the number of people that do end up drowning put themselves into a safety situation that they otherwise shouldn't have.
I know of all kinds of people GPS this, GPS that, Radar this, Radar that, flotation this, flotation that, flares this, flares that, radio this, radio that, my boat this, my boat that...yet they get out on the water, don't heed weather forecasts, single engine craft meant for inshore boating at best, running 35 miles offshore with a single stern drive or single outboard, no other buddy boats, no sailing plans, No EPIRB, and then be so stupid to not recognize when they've taken things way too far.
Case in point. 2 fellas in FULL survival suits died on the East Side of Denman Island a couple of years ago--and at no point were they more than 2 miles from shore.
Example 2:--The moron fishermen and innocent ride along victims they fish out every single summer from the drink.
Rule number 1, know your boating limitations, and stay within them--and your flotation rarely compensates you fully for your stupidity (although it does help)..and I could care less about what boating courses you've taken.
If you're not smart enough to realize when putting yourself at risk that no safety equipment will compensate for your supremely poor judgement and the unforseeable---then you fully deserve to die.