Tragic swimming accident close to home.

[Turtlesboat]

these people didn't die from hypothermia, they died because they couldn't swim anymore.

 

[Four Suns]

No license= no liability.

Is that how liability works?! damn... learn something new every day.

I'm an ex-lifeguard, water polo player and diver. More at home in the water than dry land. If some guy playing captain demands I put on a life jacket to go over the side, we're gonna find out how well HE can swim...

My oldest son (going to Va Tech) does swim practice every morning for 2 hours... has had state times for 2 years... has swam around Smith Mountain lake for 5 miles non-stop in an event for 2 years... is a life guard... is all muscle... and he wears a life jacket. He's more than welcome to not come on the boat.

I'm sure those NFL players that died didn't need a life jacket either...

 

[barryg]

I know they didn't die of hypothermia, I was just curious. A very tragic story. I have 3 of the manual inflatable belt packs that I have people wear if they want to swim and not wear a life jacket. You don't even notice it's on and for something that is similar to this story it would have done the job.. I have type 1 jackets for when we are out in the ocean and want to upgrade to the Mustang Hydrostatic Inflatable with LIFT technology, which will turn you facing up if you are knocked out and will keep your upper body pretty high up .. They are expensive (at about $300.00 each), but a small price to pay for someone's life.

 

[fc3]

My oldest son (going to Va Tech) does swim practice every morning for 2 hours... has had state times for 2 years... has swam around Smith Mountain lake for 5 miles non-stop in an event for 2 years... is a life guard... is all muscle... and he wears a life jacket. He's more than welcome to not come on the boat.

Like father, like son I presume.

 

[Four Suns]

I can't swim 100 feet...

 

[Georgia SeaDawg]

This has been some very interesting reading. I think the bottom line is that all of us will think twice when letting someone get in the water. For me, on the coast, we have dramatic tide swings, and the current moves well past 2 knots. If they can not touch bottom, or if the water is greater than 4 feet, they will have a PFD, period. We can all talk the big talk and say it would not bother us if we warned an adult to wear a PFD and they lost their life, but the only people I take on my boat are close personal friends or family, and I could not bear the fact that I let someone die on my watch. If they don't like it, they can enjoy a trip back to the marina. But I have a pretty good feeling that they would prefer the PFD.

 

[Turtlesboat]

I can swim like a fish, but when you are cold, tired, and panic sets in, you've got about 3 minutes... maybe less. If you've never dragged dead weight in the water, you should try it sometime. You never want to know what it's like dragging a panicked swimmer in the water, but it's real freakin' stressful and scary, and that's with a life jacket on. Again, even if you don't care a poop about anyone on your boat, for your own safety, make sure everyone on the boat has a flotation device. Life jackets are the best, but anything that floats and can keep someone above water is better than nothing.

 

[Scottzzzy]

What a great thread! I agree with so much that was said, especially the "my boat my rules" suggestions.

For me, I love my children and my friends too much to see anything like this happen. I am sure they say "Uncle Scott is mean cause he wont let us swim without a vest", but they will keep saying it and that is what matters to me!:smt038

 

[mwph]

I'm an ex-lifeguard, water polo player and diver. More at home in the water than dry land. If some guy playing captain demands I put on a life jacket to go over the side, we're gonna find out how well HE can swim...

I read this thread as I do most every thread posted on this site.......to learn. I am likely to be the least experienced boater in this thread, so now would be the time for a grain of salt if you wish.........

I am highly disappointed in the above quote.

My brother,(techmitch) told me this last weekend........Even Michael Phelps can't swim if he hits his head hard enough on the way in.

ps...It will be a sad day for the man who attempts to "find out how well I can swim".

 

[hack4alivin]

What a great thread! I agree with so much that was said, especially the "my boat my rules" suggestions.

This tragic event hits harder when it is so close to home. We boat through this area every time we head out, so now each time I pass it I will think about those two boys. I will also thing about the senselessness of it all. Lots of whys in this story, but as I said earlier we can all sit back and second guess. But that is too late now.

Take the hard lessons learned by others to heart, and at the very least think about the safety issues involved in what you do out there on the water. Not only for yourself but for the others around you, weather you feel responsible or not. Maybe you will save someone’s life one day. It sure is a much better alternative.

 

[hack4alivin]

I read this thread as I do most every thread posted on this site.......to learn. I am likely to be the least experienced boater in this thread, so now would be the time for a grain of salt if you wish.........

I am highly disappointed in the above quote.

My brother,(techmitch) told me this last weekend........Even Michael Phelps can't swim if he hits his head hard enough on the way in.

ps...It will be a sad day for the man who attempts to "find out how well I can swim".

+1 :smt038

 

[Presentation]

....ps...It will be a sad day for the man who attempts to "find out how well I can swim".

I laughed when I read that too.

My, um, stature makes it difficult to pick up a wrench when I drop it in the engine compartment but any guest would need a couple of buddies to toss me in the drink. I can’t think of many people I know what would not end up on the losing side of that battle.

 

[billandamy]

I personally am not in the habit of consciously having idiots on my boat who will not listen to the Captain. I'm sorry, but if you feel the need to be delicate with your passengers and feel uncomfortable forcing an issue, then by definition you are simply a watercraft owner or operator. By historical definition (certainly not LEGAL), a "Captain" or "Commander/Skipper" is responsible for all aspects of conduct of persons aboard and the vessel itself along with the safety of both. (I don't take the "conduct" too seriously : ), but do take it seriously when safety is involved.)

I think that in short, some don't believe that it is considered an imminent threat to float or swim without a vest and leave it up to the responsibility of the adult swimmer. However, where do you draw the line? Would you handle it differently if someone was "foredeck" sitting with feet hanging while underway WOT.? If they refused, would it simply be "their personal responsibility" that they were turned into ground beef if they slipped?

I've never in 20 years of boating had anyone refuse a request concerning safety aboard my boat.

Grow some and become the captain of your vessel.

I am most certainly an owner/operator, and could give two craps about being called "captain". Some of you take this boating crap waaaaaay too seriously (Not the safety part, Im fine with you taking THAT seriously...but "captain"? lol) . The vast majority here, so I suspect, do not have a captains license anymore than I do and simply call yoruself captain, as I am now going to call myself General Bill :thumbsup: Then again, I have a 21' boat on a lake :huh:

It has nothing to do with growing balls (would they be green or red?) and force people to listen to me. They are adults. Trust me, I know how to have authority in life to tell people what to do or I wouldnt have run a successful business for years before selling it for a good chunk of change.

It has to do with personal responsibility. Once I have spoken and suggested something to another adult during leisuretime activities and they choose to listen or not, I am done. I find it incredibly humorous that people can say "personal responsibility" is such a tantamount ideal for everything else, but in some cases it is not. Children? Bet your arse a kid is wearing a vest on my boat at all times and especially when swimming. There I draw the line and wont budge. Adults...?

Same as if someone suggests something to me I will choose to listen or not. No one is going to force me into a life jacket if I dont want to, and if that bothers them, I can stay home or take my own boat out or find people that are less nutty about being a "captain" much like the rapper Dre is a doctor.:smt100

 

[hack4alivin]

Insert "Pot stirring" picture here!

 

[billandamy]

Insert "Pot stirring" picture here!

Ok, Im done, I wont respond anymore, just dont like being called a wuss! lol...

Sorry for continually sidetracking the thread. I'll stay out of it now :smt001

 

[Turtlesboat]

It has nothing to do with forcing authority or calling yourself a Captain, it has to do with... "Hey, i've been swimming in these waters and you haven't, put on these little floaty arm things or you're not getting in the water because I don't feel like going and fetching your butt 20 minutes from now. I'm cranky, my duck bills are stressed, and I just spent $200 in fuel to drag you all here. Give me a freakin' break."

 

[billandamy]

It has nothing to do with forcing authority or calling yourself a Captain, it has to do with... "Hey, i've been swimming in these waters and you haven't, put on these little floaty arm things or you're not getting in the water because I don't feel like going and fetching your butt 20 minutes from now. I'm cranky, my duck bills are stressed, and I just spent $200 in fuel to drag you all here. Give me a freakin' break."

"Nah, I dont want to wear one" >Jumps in the water.

Ok captain, whatcha gonna do? Go in and drag him out? Make a big scene? Yell? Curse? Make your own day miserable because he didnt listen? Worry about it? He's an awesome friend except for this one aspect of not wanting to wear a life jacket.

Ill go enjoy the day. You can worry. :smt001

 

[Turtlesboat]

that's when the water balloon launcher comes into play. "Hey, buttface. Lets see how long you can tread water while I launch water balloons into your face at 50mph."

 

[billandamy]

that's when the water balloon launcher comes into play. "Hey, buttface. Lets see how long you can tread water while I launch water balloons into your face at 50mph."

:lol: Actually, I like that idea a lot! Even if they do listen and wear a life jacket.

 

[ChuckW]

The tragedy not withstanding, where this thread now has gone is better entertainment than spending $10 bucks at the theatre :grin:. Got my popcorn out.