On Feb 23, 7:59�pm, "JimH" wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

...
On Feb 23, 1:58?pm, "JimH" wrote:



If I was boating in near freezing water in a 16 foot aluminum boat I would
probable wear one, although I cannot imagine going out in that size boat
in
near freezing water (or water cold enough to cause hypothermia within a
minute or so).

What type of water was this 16 foot aluminum boat running in? ?Bay, lake,
ocean?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I am trying to religiously wear my inflatable PFD. There's no reason
not to. It doesn't get in the way of moving around, doesn't weigh
anything, and doesn't exhibit any of the negative characteristics most
folks associate with wearing a pfd. �If I'm in the pilothouse on our
36-foot boat, I don't see a real need- except times when I'm
singlehanded. But it sets a good example.

---------------------------
Knowing the water temperatures you boat in that is probably a wise decision
on your part.

For us, our boating is limited to some Spring fishing, summer swimming and
fall fishing and swimming. �Only during Spring is the water temperature an
issue for hypothermia. � A life jacket is in easy reach for me at all times
while on the boat, as it is for all aboard.

When the kids were young (they boated with us since they were toddlers) they
were always in a heads up PFD. � Once they learned to swim (at an early age)
they would wear them only when underway or in the water. � Eventually, they
were old enough that I did not require them to wear them.

Who knows.....some day I may be one of the CG statistics.......old habits
are hard to break.

The only problem with having the life jacket "within easy
reach".......

You have to know in advance when you're going to go overboard so you
can get it out of the locker and put it on. I'm pretty sure that if
you were to interview 100 people who fell overboard, 90 some of them
would say it was a complete and nasty surprise.

One of the worst things I see in our state is families with young kids
out in a small boat. By state law, kids under 12 years old in open
boats under 19 feet *must* wear a pfd at all times. So we see a boat
with two adults and three young kids, and the kids are all wearing a
pfd but neither of the adults are doing so. Message sent to the kids,
"When you get to be a grownup, you don't have to wear this silly pfd.
Life jackets are for babies".