Falling overboard

8x56mn · Mar 21, 2006

I have a nagging question hope this is the correct place to ask. I fish by myself and use a 19 foot Sea Ray and my question is this. What can I do if I'm by myself and fall overboard while trolling. I am not getting any younger and I can see this happening while fighting a fish and a rouge wave hits the boat and over I go. The boat is putting along and I'm treading water. I do wear a flotation device, but I sure couldn't catch the boat.

JB · Mar 21, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

Your safety kill switch lanyard will stop the boat the moment you leave. That is, of course, if you wear it, which I recommend. You could also wear an EPIRB transmitter that will summon help right away.

crazy charlie · Mar 21, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

A lanyard is what you need.It is a safety switch that is connected to a coiled plastic wire that attaches to you and a safety switch on the dash.When you fall overboard or stray too far from the controls the clip trips the switch and the motor shuts off.Now you have to worry about getting back into the boat.Swim platforn WITH a fold down ladder is absolutely necessary to get back in.

JB · Mar 21, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

Dang, that was close, Charlie!

Chief101 · Mar 21, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

Hows about, dare I say, a good pfd to go along with the kill switch on a string and ladder.

Mark42 · Mar 21, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

Yep, all of the above.

brownies · Mar 21, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

There's not much more good advice a person can add here.. I just had to stop in and say "Thanks for the mental image". I can just see all that happenning and the boat not "missing a beat"...lol.

DangerDan · Mar 21, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

If you don't have an EPIRB a cell phone in a ziplock bag helps. Enter your local USCG # to speed dial prior to departure. It can be dialed without opening the bag prior . Also drop a dockline over the side, It may seem werid but the difference between getting back to your boat or not. I've fished some pretty bad weather alone and have even gone as far as tying my self off to contend with the lines for a spell.

Texasmark · Mar 21, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

But what if he fell overboard because of a fish he was playing and now he's in the water and the fish is still pulling.....oh me oh my. The things we get ourselves into. Grin. I like the lanyard and the PFD. Mark

8x56mn · Mar 22, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

Thanks for all the advice. My fishing boat is a I/O and it doesn't have a kill switch on it lke my small outboard duck boat. These work great if your near the outboard where the switch is but how about when your in the stearn playing a fish 20 feet from the controls?

SwampNut · Mar 22, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

You could add a kill switch at any location you want. There are also radio-operated kill switches which turn off the motor when they hit the water, no wires.

Mike Robinson · Mar 26, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

I would suggest that you find yourself a fishing buddy. Surely there's someone who would jump at the chance to go fishing! (maybe a young person who you could introduce to the joys of fishing)

jtexas · Mar 27, 2006

Re: Falling overboard

Wireless Lanyard

Falling overboard

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