Another Watercraft found afloat on Winni

Top-Water · 07-08-2019, 02:51 AM

Early Morning Saturday (7/6/2019) I found an unoccupied paddle boat floating on the lake.

Disturbingly about 200 yards or so from the empty boat I found an unoccupied life jacket floating in the water

I retrieved it and made it secure and towed it into center harbor after checking to see if anyone was in distress before leaving the area.

It has been reported to Marine Patrol. Special thanks to Gregg (town employee) at the Center Harbor launch for helping me get the boat on land and reporting the incident to Marine Patrol.

Thank you also to the fella launching his boat who had the patience to wait a few moments for us to haul the boat out.

If it is your boat you might have to call Marine Patrol to identify it.

FlyingScot · 07-08-2019, 08:59 AM

Amazing to me that many (most?) SUP users do not wear life vests. You're alone on an unstable platform, often far from shore, it's a busy lake, and when you fall in, you are literally falling.

fatlazyless · 07-08-2019, 03:12 PM

Depending how you fall, is possible to get smacked upside your head on the board, or on a rock, a dock, any nearby hard object like a mooring float or even a shallow sandy bottom. Paddle boarding .....is fun water exercise .... can be a head knocker.

If paddle boarders don't want to wear a pfd because it is too hot and bulky on a hot day, it is required to have a pfd and a whistle on board, so one can do that and wear a home made foam noodle belt which is less bulky and actually works a lot better for swimming than a pfd.

fatlazyless · 07-09-2019, 07:34 AM

Actually, a home made foam noodle belt made with a single 94-cent noodle and a better quality 5/16" line is a serious good swimmer's belt and would go a long way to keeping one afloat and alive in cool 50-70 degree water temps, or if partially drunk, or stunned by a head smack.

People have different buoyancy and comfort levels in water over their head. For example, swimming 100-yards in 60-degree water with no flotation is a drowning situation for many people.

MAXUM · 07-09-2019, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Actually, a home made foam noodle belt made with a single 94-cent noodle and a better quality 5/16" line is a serious good swimmer's belt and would go a long way to keeping one afloat and alive in cool 50-70 degree water temps, or if partially drunk, or stunned by a head smack.

People have different buoyancy and comfort levels in water over their head. For example, swimming 100-yards in 60-degree water with no flotation is a drowning situation for many people.

Putting any confidence in a foam noodle is also likely to result in a drowning situation too. However if it saves you a buck or two it's so worth it.

Descant · 07-11-2019, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Putting any confidence in a foam noodle is also likely to result in a drowning situation too. However if it saves you a buck or two it's so worth it.

If a PFD is required, adding a noodle is an excess expense, not a savings.

07-08-2019, 02:51 AM	#1
Top-Water Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Posts: 674 Thanks: 1,535 Thanked 714 Times in 431 Posts	Another Watercraft found afloat on Winni Early Morning Saturday (7/6/2019) I found an unoccupied paddle boat floating on the lake. Disturbingly about 200 yards or so from the empty boat I found an unoccupied life jacket floating in the water I retrieved it and made it secure and towed it into center harbor after checking to see if anyone was in distress before leaving the area. It has been reported to Marine Patrol. Special thanks to Gregg (town employee) at the Center Harbor launch for helping me get the boat on land and reporting the incident to Marine Patrol. Thank you also to the fella launching his boat who had the patience to wait a few moments for us to haul the boat out. If it is your boat you might have to call Marine Patrol to identify it.

07-08-2019, 03:12 PM	#3
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,691 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 992 Times in 723 Posts	Depending how you fall, is possible to get smacked upside your head on the board, or on a rock, a dock, any nearby hard object like a mooring float or even a shallow sandy bottom. Paddle boarding .....is fun water exercise .... can be a head knocker. If paddle boarders don't want to wear a pfd because it is too hot and bulky on a hot day, it is required to have a pfd and a whistle on board, so one can do that and wear a home made foam noodle belt which is less bulky and actually works a lot better for swimming than a pfd. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

07-09-2019, 07:34 AM	#4
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,691 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 992 Times in 723 Posts	Actually, a home made foam noodle belt made with a single 94-cent noodle and a better quality 5/16" line is a serious good swimmer's belt and would go a long way to keeping one afloat and alive in cool 50-70 degree water temps, or if partially drunk, or stunned by a head smack. People have different buoyancy and comfort levels in water over their head. For example, swimming 100-yards in 60-degree water with no flotation is a drowning situation for many people. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

07-08-2019, 08:59 AM	#2
FlyingScot Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Tuftonboro and Sudbury, MA Posts: 2,327 Thanks: 1,238 Thanked 987 Times in 608 Posts	Amazing to me that many (most?) SUP users do not wear life vests. You're alone on an unstable platform, often far from shore, it's a busy lake, and when you fall in, you are literally falling.

The Following User Says Thank You to fatlazyless For This Useful Post:
MBNeckguy (07-09-2019)