On Sat, 1 Dec 2007 17:39:14 -0800 (PST), Chuck Gould
wrote:

On Dec 1, 5:21?pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On Fri, 30 Nov 2007 07:57:14 -0800 (PST), Chuck Gould

wrote:
This time it was three guys from NJ.

Apparently they thought the primary purpose of having PFD aboard a
small boat was to palacate the USCG in case of inspection.

What a shame. Considering wives, kids, friends, coworkers, ?employers,
employees, and family members there are maybe hundreds of people
affected by each of these deaths, so it isn't entirely or solely a
personal decision.

We can only hope their possibly needless deaths will serve as
instructional examples

The water up there is so freakin cold this time of year, it is
doubtful that a life jacket would have done more than prolong the
inevitable in my opinion. ?The *real* issue is what were these guys
thinking of, being off the NJ coast in November, in a 25 footer?
There are plenty of 40s, 50s and 60s that get in trouble in the NJ
inlets when things are rough. ?In a 25 kt nor'easter you can see the
surf breaking in and near those inlets from 3 miles out. ?Been there,
done that.

The best decision, in conditions like you describe, is not to go at
all.

Once out there in a small boat, wearing a pfd is only one of the
precautions one should be taking.

Back when I was on the Regional Dive Team, we did an ice rescue drill
and I volunteered to be the victim.

Put on one of those fancy cold water survival suits and after a hole
was cut in the ice, jumped in.

After about a half hour, I was cold.

The odd thing is that I've been under the ice in a wet suit for the
same amount of time and never was that cold.

Weird.