Page 11 - Mid America Boating - August 2024 issue

where youngsters were we would not have spotted her. along, as required, but if they are needed,
carried offshore and had The Coast Guard considers kayaks and they must be worn to be of benefit. Take
to be rescued. canoes as boats and requires that there must someone along and jump overboard with
One such event be a PFD for each person on board. Children your PFD in hand, attempt to put it on and
happened while I was of variable age, depending on state require- see what a difficult task it is. Imagine being
returning from a charter ments, must be wearing one and it must in rough seas a good distance offshore and
fishing trip on the Miss be properly fitted and fastened. If a person alone. What might the outcome be?
Port Austin. It was a nice enters the water with a type III PFD on that is PFDs are not only required by law – they
day but dark clouds were not fastened, the jacket can hold their arms really should be on every operator of any boat
developing. We all noticed extended outward and place them face down. at any time on the water, because…
a strange object off in the Kayaks, jet skis, canoes, paddleboards, A PFD CAN’T SAVE YOU IF YOU DON’T
distance and became inflatables of all types are toys to play with WEAR IT. MAB
curious about it so I asked on near-shore waterways. Although they are 11 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] AUGUST 2024
my passengers if they considered boats, they can present their Perils of the Freshwater Seas, an anthology of
would like to take a ride own dangers and their use requires a need stories and experiences written by Captain Fred
offshore to check it out. for respect, knowledge and caution. Many Davis is available for $22.30 (includes shipping)
As we approached, we people do not wear their PFDs while oper- E-Mail: padavis2006@comcast.net
saw two children sitting ating their small “toys.” Some carry them
on a jet ski and an inflat-
able mattress sticking up
alongside it.
As we got closer, we
noted a women swimming
and pulling the jet ski with
a long rope. We hailed her
and told her to come over
to the back of my vessel.
I lowered my aft platform
and with help from a few
be offshore taking them to depths over their passengers we pulled the machine aboard
heads. Unless they are wearing a personal along with the woman and kids. We asked
flotation device (PFD), or a boat is nearby, how they had got so far offshore and what
their lives are in peril. had occurred. She said she was pulling one
The National Safe Boating Council repeat- kid at a time on the inflatable and when she
edly states, “Life Jackets, They Don’t Work If stopped to switch riders, the tow rope got
You Don’t Wear Them.” sucked into the drive system of the jet ski and
This reminder applies not only to boaters shut it down. She expressed her gratitude and
but it should be a guide to all who venture we agreed that if she had not had a life jacket
out or let their children go on the water in on as she was trying to pull the jet ski she
floatables. I have witnessed numerous cases would have been pushed further offshore and