on KSL...
[url "http://www.ksl.com/?sid=34350349&nid=148&title=2-people-rescued-from-willard-bay-after-wind-capsized-boat&s_cid=queue-1"]http://www.ksl.com/?sid=34350349&nid=148&title=2-people-rescued-from-willard-bay-after-wind-capsized-boat&s_cid=queue-1[/url]
Hopefully both will be okay.
Please Wear Those Life Jackets!
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Willard Bay + wind = bad news! Hope they are ok. Not sure how they only ended up with one life jacket but please, everyone, error on the side of caution. Live to fish another day.
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I fished WB today. The wind came up quite a bit, whitecaps everywhere. I'm guessing 30MPH+, wind waves 1'-2'. I saw the Parks guys run from the north marina towards the south. I thought maybe a pontoon boat couldn't get home. When I was pulling out, there was a sheriff waiting at the ramp for the rescue guys. He told me what happened.
It was pretty amazing because when that wind came up I was out by the lightpole. There were several small, open boats out there with minimal freeboard. I watched as they ran for home. When I got back to the north marina there was only one other boat out, and he was just outside fishing for crappie. I was in my Hewescraft and was fine. I decided to head for the barn when it got rough, but just put it on autopilot and trolled home. It was too rough for planer boards so I just flat lined SR7s. Picked up 4 walleye on my way in.
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That place gets dangerous when the wind blows. Glad I picked up an inflatable PFD.
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Thanks Jon for the additional info as we all ponder about what if it could have been me. Sounds like it was a rough water day. Willard can get that way.
Last report said they were both recovering in the hospital.
Thankfully one of them had a waterproof case on his phone to call for help.
Live to fish another day - WEAR your life jacket! What a helmet is to a motorcycle rider, a life jacket is to a boater.
I'm glad everything worked out for them! It could have been real bad if they didn't have a waterproof phone case or the one life jacket!
In Navy boot camp we had to learn to make our own "make shift" PFD's while floating in the water. It is no replacement for a good life vest, but if you find yourself in an emergency, DONT PANIC! Catch your breath and work your pants or jacket or whatever off. Tie knots in the bottom of the legs or sleeves, then either scoop air in or blow air in. They will inflate and hold air long enough for you stay afloat a lot longer than with nothing at all!
On another note, if they need help recovering their gear and know where it is, I would be glad to help! I have had some good practice lately...
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Although I fish from a pontoon, I got a inflatable and wear it whenever i am on the water!
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I tried to post a video, but it takes forever to download. Don't know how to do it. Yesterday there was a small boat running into the chop for the south marina with three guys in it, not a single PFD on. I just don't understand how people can do this type of thing, no PFD, no seatbelt, no hlemet while riding a motorcycle, texting while driving, etc. Incredible. Doing stupid stuff can get you killed.
I got a ticket from Parks two years ago because they said my buoy with a rope on it wasn't a throwable PFD. I explained that it's far better to have a buoy with a rope on it for two reasons. One, if you miss you can easily retrieve it and throw it again, and two, you can pull somebody in once they grab it. They also took exception that I didn't have a paddle. Well, ain't no way your're going to paddle my boat. I carry a drift sock to keep my bow pointed up swell, and an anchor to keep me off the rocks. The Coast Guard agrees with me. Parks guy had his head where the sun don't shine.
I wonder if the boat in my photo is the one that capsized.
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you don't need a paddle if you have a trolling motor , or if the boat is over a certain size but don't quote me on that
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thanks it's nice to see that in writing it takes the guess work out if it .[cool]
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No problem. It's always a good idea to review the boating rules and laws each year to refamiliarize ourselves.
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amen there's nothing like getting caught with you pants down on an inspection[mad]
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