There was also a drowning this winter, a father/son in a small boat, son made it to shore, father didn't in either Long or Peter's Pond. Some of you have seen my writeup of safety recently to the salt-l mailing list.
If your in a boat assume the worst.
You will fall overboard somtime.
When you do you will hit your head and be semi concsious.
Your boots and cloths will weigh you down so you can't swim.
If you fall in - its pretty hard to climb back into a boat of any size without assitance.
As John said - it sonly if your really, really lucky someone sees you go in and is close enough to help.
etc.
Lifejackets or some form of positive bouyancy provide you with a chance.
If your alone in a boat w/out some sort of flotation on you at all times your crazy. People look at me like I'm nuts with my Mustang jacket on, when I'm parked on a milkpond somewhere. I don't care what they think..
two years back I almost lost a friend overboard at speed when the boat surfed down a wave in a violent motion. It was Oct; the seas were rough, he was heavily dressed.
I'm not sure that if he had gone over I was capable of getting the boat back to him before he sank.
Myself and my family all are required to wear flotation in the boat at all times. This year I'm considering forcing all passengers to wear floatation when the boat is not at rest.
2 tidbits I have heard - I am not sure of their factual content.
1. 2/3 of all drowned fisherman are found with their flies open.
2. A class III PFD provides you roughly 12 or 14 pounds positive bouyancy which is enough to float most people in most circumstances. A person dressed in 3 layers of cloths with boots has 10 pounds of negative bouyancy- enough to exhaust you and drown y
ou in minutes.
Your milage may vary.