I know a lot of us F150 owners have boats. I was fishing with my 10 year old son at the other end of this lake on Saturday.

http://www.salisburypost.com/News/04...-at-tuckertown

Please be careful and don't take chances.

 

This'll sound cold but I think it's natural selection. What idiot puts their kids in a boat with no life preservers? And what idiot lets their kid jump into swift moving water to get a rod and reel? That musta been one heck of a rod and reel to pay that big of a price. Ya have to feel for the remaining family but sometimes you just can't fix stupid. If you have a boat, follow the rules of the water and have all safety equipment on board. They didn't just make up the rules to hassle you. If you have a friend with a boat and going with him, check to make sure that all safety equipment is on board and works or stay at home. The life you save may be yer own.

 

No real argument from me...except I think the son accidently fell in while trying to retrieve the rod and reel; then the Dad jumped in when he saw his son couldn't keep afloat.

To me (at least) the other important fact is that while there isn't a requirement to wear life jackets when anchored, it's only smart. Hence my sons (10 and 14) put theirs on in the parking lot while we're preparing to launch and take them off in the parking lot when we're tying the boat down.

Stuff can happen on a boat way too quick...

This post was only meant to serve as a friendly reminder, nothing more.

 

One of the fishing outfitters I took a fishing trip with REQUIRED all passengers to either wear a life preserver (which I did) or sign a waiver stating that you were notified of the safety concerns involved with not wearing a life preserver, and that the company could not be sued for your choice not to wear a life preserver. Of course, this little waiver came up after a Powerpoint slideshow showing many rafts and boats that were damaged or recovered after sinking, and the reports of how many people drowned in the stretch of river we were about to be on.

Even in my personal fishing boat, I wear a life jacket and have flotation devices and a rescue ring available for use in case someone falls overboard. I also request others on my boat wear a life jacket unless we are fishing at the time, then the life jackets can come off when we are anchored or beached. Generally, everyone in the boat uses common sense.

One other thing: There are NO alcoholic beverages allowed on my boat, period. Seen far to many 'splash and giggle' kids drown on the Salt River here in Phoenix after drinking and tubing.

 

That 10 year old boy is going to spend the rest of his life seeing his dad and brother die in that horrible, so avoidable way. My prayers go out to him and his family.

 

good lord thats terrible

 

wow thats terrible..i hate that

 

Twenty years working search and rescue (SAR) with the Coast Guard has taught me just how important life jackets are.

I’ve never recovered a dead body from the water that was wearing a life jacket.

-TFB

 

As an avid boater for almost 50 years, this kind of thing gets me sick. Every year - especially at the beginning of boating season - we see this kind of totally avoidable thing.

I once resuced a man, his father and his young son from a sinking 14 foot boat in 3-5' seas on Lake Ontario. Not a single PFD in their boat. My 6 year old son was with me (and assisted) and he was proudly wearing his latest new PFD. He put his old PFD on the young boy as soon as he was safely in our boat. When the Coast Guard showed up, we put them onto the 44' MLB and I hope they heard a ton of crap on their stupid behavior.

I do feel truly sorry for the surviving son.