Are you a good swimmer?

I am frequently surprised how many boaters and/or their spouces and children can not swim a lick. Do you have non-swimmers on your boat regularly?

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

Except for my parents, nope - pretty unusual for someone in MN to not know how to swim unless they are pretty old. My 3 sisters and I were all became certified lifeguards in junior high - not one any more but can still swim just fine Our kids are all pretty decent swimmers too.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

Both the admiral and I grew up in Malibu on the beach. I was a "surfer" (longgg time ago), life guard and on the swim team in High School. So, we are "swimmers" as are our two sons. We have had very few non-swimmers out on the boat but still make sure everyone has a PFD available and close by - including ourselves. For us, I think it has to do with the area in which we live - southern california - where most people (not all but most) are used to swimming.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

I was a certified lifeguard in my teens. The wife was on the highschool swim team. We do ok. LOL

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I was a Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructor and Lifeguard. I put myself through college teaching swimming to children and adults, at the YWCA. I'm also PADI certified in Scuba. I taught my children to swim when they were very young, since we have a pond in our backyard, the in-laws have a place on the lake, and my parents have a 28' cruiser. We are always near the water it seems.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

I'm really good at sinking! LoL- NASE certified dive master, rescue swimmer.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

zagger said:

I'm really good at sinking! LoL- NASE certified dive master, rescue swimmer.

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Wish I'd thought of that!

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

All 3 of my boys took baby swimming lessons before they could walk. Besides we have a Pool. So everyone in the family can swim several laps in the pool.
Our dog the other hand sinks like a rock. Short legs I guess. Actually she can swim 50ft before sinking. I need to get her a doggy life vest.

Anyway a boat and a pool is for AZ summer Survival .

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

we starting boat with mom and dad very early on as kids so we had to learn real quick and now that I have kids and a pool and a boat on a big lake, not being able to swim is not an option in our house.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

You have to be aware of the false sense of security that comes from having "swimmers" on board. Obviously (or I should say, hopefully) a non-swimmer isn't going to jump overboard intentionally for a dip, and will more likely wear a PFD.
The time when it makes a difference, however, is a sudden and unforseen event--from being caught in current while intentionally swimming, to falling overboard accidentally in cold or swift water or while wearing heavy gear/clothes, or after a collision or fire, in total chaos, with injuries. The best swimmer can't overcome a broken shoulder. And people on an anchored boat typically underestimate current and the strength it takes to swim against it back to the boat.

So I wouldn't regard every passenger as a non-swimmer, but to be safe, regard them as no more than a weak swimmer, and plan accordingly.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

Swimming is for youngsters, I'll stay with the boat thank you! These days I'm more a floater.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

I grew up in a swimming family but married into a family of land-lubbers. It seems each has a "near drowning" experience. Most seem trivial to me - not in any real danger. But I am sure the panic that resulted was real and panic does funky things to people. So I balance accommodating their anxieties with my own common sense. I want everyone on board to have fun.

For example, my father in law hates it when I stray to far from shore. Spoils the ride for him. I point out that close to shore are where the hazards are but this does not make sense to him.

Father's Day was fun. My kids (swimmers) gave me a tube. We can't wait to take it out. The rest of the family is about ready to speed dial child protective services though... So you want to drag them behind the boat in such a manner that they may fall off in water over their heads? With all of the currents, whirlpools, carnivorous fish and U-Boats in the lake?

I also have pesky rules - wear PFD's, do not exceed capacity plate, no water sports for non-swimmers (even with PFD), no drivers that are not trained...

It's all good though... Another great day on the lake (Conesus in NY) yesterday.

jh

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

Where I play it doesn't matter if you're a good swimmer or not. Everyone that goes into the water is lumped into one category, Bait.

Who wants to go for a swim?

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

Funny how some people are scared to venture far from shore. I always say if you are 5'11" than it does not matter if it is 6' or 600' of water below you.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

I never understand how someone can "step into deep water and drown" as happens around here a lot. By definition you are only 1 step away from shallow water! (barring big currents). The answer is that man is the only animal that will drown, or I should say, can't swim by instinct. We panic. Even a cat will swim if thrown overboard.

When I went to college in the 70's, every student was required to pass a swimming test, or take and pass swimming for PE, even though we were in the mountains. What was interesting was that the best swimmers were from the northern midwest, and not the southerners who had long hot summers on the water. The reason? They all had indoor swimming pools at school, and it was a school sport, where us Southerners might have a club swim team, but mostly we just swam wherever. Now, even in the south, there is a lot of school swimming, as well as more public pools, swim programs, etc.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

For the most part we are non-swimmers. I can swim well enough to save myself and my daughter is slightly better. My father -in-law is a good swimmer but more than that he's quite heavy (fat floats :^) )

The rule for kids on the boat is no matter how good of a swimmer they are, they will wear a PFD when the boat is moving or when they are in the water. Because I CANNOT swim well enough to save them and the lake is green enough that if they go under I will never find them.

I've had very good swimmers on board and I do get nervous when they are swimming 50-100' off the boat without flotation. But I figure once I tell them they are on their own and I cannot save them it's on their head

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

Go fishing every chance I get,plus lobster fished for 20 years.
Can't swim,if I jump in the water I'm more like a skinny cat making it to shore,then a dog...not pretty.
Wife and kids can swim,I just never learned.
You would be surprized how many commercial fishermen can't swim...not that it matters up here...brrr.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

All of mine can swim and anone who can't on my rig is tied to a PFD while on the boat. As stated before not being able to tread water in my family is not an option.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

I just had this conversation with my little ones the other day while we were at the pool doing some daddy instructed swim lessons (lifeguard/WSI/swim team back in the day) ...

"Yah know guys, I'll not force you to do a whole lot in this world. You'll really have a lot of choice as time goes on. I'll also say this, I Love You all very much so you will learn how to swim."

They are still little so they really didn't get most of what I was saying, that's cool. They did understand the important part. Swim lessons are non negotiable.

Re: Are you a good swimmer?

Bubba1235 said:

Hmmm, I get the feeling the non-swimmers are not responding to this poll.

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They drowned.