Going for swim ..... anyone?

The biggest worry we have is the "shrinkage factor" since the water tends to be a bit cooler out there...

Same here. Our boat went in as a 30'er. Now it's a 25;)
 
Yikes!!!! how can anyone say that swimming off a boat is a bad idea. I am not a crazy thrill seeker by any means but we swim off of our bot all of the time. BTW, no difference between 7 feet of water and 2000 ft unless you intend to anchor.
 
Being a lake boater and growing up on a small lake in the NC mountains we think nothing of stopping the boat and going for a swim to cool off. Our water is around 90deg by mid summer! Now the little lake growing up was pretty cool and deep - pretty common for us to end up in the water late at night, unclothed of course (water was a little cool for romance :()! Even though I am a decent swimmer, I never go in the lake without a ski vest or some sort of float in hand. So to answer your question I probably would not think twice of going in the ocean for a dip, I would of course have a life jacket on and a tether to the boat - but as I described my lake boat experience maybe I am naive to something here.

I will say I have always had the heebee geebees over what is under you when swimming in a lake - stumps, trees, big ass catfish, even houses in some of the dammed up lakes we boat on - I just don't think about it.
Thank you.
 
Soon there will be laws....swimming will be against the law....even beavers will be yanked from their ponds, it'll be for their own good:confused:
Lmao, nice. Thanks. I know what you mean.
 
Yikes!!!! how can anyone say that swimming off a boat is a bad idea. I am not a crazy thrill seeker by any means but we swim off of our bot all of the time. BTW, no difference between 7 feet of water and 2000 ft unless you intend to anchor.
Ah. Finally, thank you. Much appreciated
 
Being a lake boater and growing up on a small lake in the NC mountains we think nothing of stopping the boat and going for a swim to cool off. Our water is around 90deg by mid summer! Now the little lake growing up was pretty cool and deep - pretty common for us to end up in the water late at night, unclothed of course (water was a little cool for romance :()! Even though I am a decent swimmer, I never go in the lake without a ski vest or some sort of float in hand. So to answer your question I probably would not think twice of going in the ocean for a dip, I would of course have a life jacket on and a tether to the boat - but as I described my lake boat experience maybe I am naive to something here.

I will say I have always had the heebee geebees over what is under you when swimming in a lake - stumps, trees, big ass catfish, even houses in some of the dammed up lakes we boat on - I just don't think about it.
Thank you. Refreshing to hear it's not that bad of an idea! It's on. Life vest, ...and safety line. Check and check.
 
So, it seems the only reason it's a bad idea is because we don't know what monster lies below and awaits for me in the deep blue.
My takeaway is, the boat has a swim platform. I can't imagine why they call it a swim platform if it's purpose is to just be used for exiting and entry while at a slip. I think they would have named it, the entry exit platform in that case.
So, safety first ( safety gear on hand never leave the dock without it) . Trust me, i'm not a thrill seeker ...and definitely don't want to get a bad case of X's on my eyes with a condition known as dead. ( did 3 tours in Iraq, ...and had a great journey that got me to where I'm at now, so I want to live a little.)
But again, safety is first. I can deal with shrinkage, take one blue pill afterwards and it'll be right as rain. Thanks again to all that chimed in, good, bad ...and ugly, it was all good info. Wish me luck.
 
Down in the Keys one time. Went out to a reef on a dive boat from the place we were staying. Was only the two of us - and the dive boat captain - not a big or loud group.

Tied off to a mooring at the reef, probably 10ft or less of water under the boat.

After an hour or two around the reed, came back to the boat. In the water but hanging on to the platform. Captain said I saw a large grouper swim under the boat, take a look.

Dipped below the water to look. This "friggin" grouper was longer than my wife is tall. This thing was 6 ft long - probably 4 ft from belly to dorsal at least. Just sitting there staring at me.

I went in the boat without the ladder! Was finished snorkeling for the day

Mark
 
So I remember many “swim calls” when I was a young US Navy sailor back in the stone ages. They were a ton of fun. Then again, we had guys watching out for sharks with long guns while we frolicked in the deep water. Also, there is safety in numbers so the risk of someone drowning was greatly reduced.
If you can have someone looking out for sharks, and incorporate an active safeguard against drowning, then I say go for it.
 
Wow.
Want my candid opinion?

Go swim. People do it all the damn time.
/rant
You run the risk of getting shot at the Grocery store, run over by a car in the street, or walking on the sidewalk, catching a rock to the head from a lawn mower. Do you consider all of the dangers every time you go out in public? I'll bet not. I don't wear a helmet to check the mail, and I don't wear my gear every time I go outside. I'm taking a calculated risk.
If I ride a motorcycle I wear my gear. Helmet, boots, gloves, at a minimum. abrasive resistant clothing if called for.
I understand the dangers involved.

I have a boat.
I'm out on the water all day. I'm surrounded by stuff that I cannot breathe, cannot walk on, filled with creatures that don't like me, on a vessel that just seems to want to break, or not start at any given moment.
I'm surrounded by people.
People who are having fun.
They are also not paying full attention.
They are watching their kids, or that Bikini, or their depth gauge.
Of all these things, I am aware.

I have Life vests/jackets, a Throwable PFD, rope, flares, fire extinguishers, radio, phone, First Aid Kit, tools, spare parts, all the jazz required, plus.

Will ANY of that stop an accident from happening?
NOPE. NOT AT ALL.
All of that stuff is just like the cops.
Good to have around, but not much help until something happens.

Worth the risk? Abso-freaking-lutely.
Life is short. It is full of anxiety, stress, risk, failure, pain, sadness, illness, intense joy, love, happiness, fun, laughter, and excitement.
Experience it all.
Nothing better than some time/beer shared with someone who has done things, seen things, and experienced life. The stories and experiences are what make us what and who we are.

Go My Dude, Swim off your damn boat.
Frolic Naked in the Sea, Then live to tell the tale.
My point?
Don't get dead of something stupid, and don't cause your loved ones undue pain.
Nobody wants to be remembered that way.
But don't let anything but your own decisions keep you from doing what makes you happy.

Okay. I'm done.
\rant
 
So I remember many “swim calls” when I was a young US Navy sailor back in the stone ages. They were a ton of fun. Then again, we had guys watching out for sharks with long guns while we frolicked in the deep water. Also, there is safety in numbers so the risk of someone drowning was greatly reduced.
If you can have someone looking out for sharks, and incorporate an active safeguard against drowning, then I say go for it.

We did the same. Cruising in circles for 90 days in the Indian Ocean, and swim day was like going to Disneyland.
 
If your wife tops up your life insurance and then is all of a sudden very supportive of the idea, I would say you might want to think about it a bit more.
 
Geez, just go swimming already. Toss out a line with a floaty or a ring in case you drift and jump in. Since you won't be anchored make sure your wife can operate the boat in case you drift. It's not quite the same but we swim in the harbor all summer.

Apparently grouper can be rather friendly.

maxresdefault.jpg
 
"Put the longest line you have on a stern cleat.
Wear a life vest, Keep the line in your hand."


I don't get the issue, we do this all the time!
 
I don't know about New Jersey but when we lived in Las Vegas and boated in Lake Mead we stopped all the time ad jumped in to cool off.

We have also been returning to Maui from Lana'i on a snorkel excursion and half way across the skipper stops the boat in the middle of the ocean and asks if anyone wants to cool off. We did....It was awesome.

Go for the swim, just don't be stupid.
 

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