The tragic loss of our friend, River Rat, on February 8th was a harsh wake-up call for many people. What lessons have you learned from this? There is the obvious lesson about wearing PFD's, but is there anything else we can learn? Do you now approach cold-water fishing differently? Are there any not-so-obvious things you have considered or learned from all of this? Now that we've had time to think about Skip's accident and digest the consequences, do you have any thoughts in general?

A memorial service is planned for Skip on Saturday, March 17, 2001 at 2pm. The service is being held at Granite Missionary Baptist Church - 10614 St. Paul Avenue || Granite, MD 21163. All RS.com members are welcome to attend.

RS.com Staff

By Tim Hanford (Trackerpro17) on Saturday, March 10, 2001 - 12:12 pm:
Besides learning to wear my PFD, I have learned a few other things too. Mostly, I hug my wife a little tighter and longer before we go to sleep each night. It may be the last hug we share. I also have been appreciating time with family more. My father is getting older and I try to enjoy every chance we have to get together or just talk on the phone.

I have learned to have more respect for the waters we fish. I used to take fishing for granted but now I savor each and every outing. Each cast could be my last.

By Sean on Sunday, March 11, 2001 - 01:18 am:
Skip's tragedy left me with more respect for the river than I've ever had. The first time the river earned my respect, it nearly claimed my life at the "narrows" in Dauphin about 15 years ago when my canoe went bellie-up. Since then a lot of people have died in the Susquehanna, and each time it takes a life, I learn a little bit more.

A few obvious and maybe not so obvious tips:

1. Don't go alone. (On a lighter note, it's nice to have a witness to back up your fish story).

2. If you are in cold, moving water, WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET. While this WILL NOT GUARANTEE survival, it sure as heck cannot do any harm.

3. Something my father told me, if you are in cold, swift current, and plan to be there for whatever reason, tie a floating rope to your transom. If someone goes in (and especially if you are alone) and gets quickly swept away, that rope would be a nice thing to grab hold of when the boat is suddenly upstream from your position.

4. Keep a change of clothes (in colder waters) aboard.

5. Use that lanyard/kill switch.

6. Take the cell phone with you.

7. Let someone know where you will be.

8. This is becoming clearer and clearer to me all the time; if the weather is miserable enough that you can't enjoy being out on the water, you probably shouldn't be out on the water.

9. If you're not familiar with the waters you are in, get back before sunset.

10. Don't forget the lessons you learn!

By Capn Chuck on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 12:24 pm:
A little piece of plastic. No, I'm not speaking of anything Yamamoto of any lure manufacturer makes, I'm talking about the little "U" shaped thing on the end of your "kill switch" lanyard!

Now yes, you should be wearing your life jacket. Especially in the cold. And YES, the kill switch lanyard should be attached to that lanyard. And yes, you SHOULD have someone with you, especially on cold water. Now what happens IF the boat operator goes out of the boat? How are you going to come back and get him if the kill switch is attached to HIS life jacket, and he is in the water?

Both people IN the boat are POTENTIAL operators. They should not only be ABLE to operate the machinery, they MUST be able to start it! Get a spare kill switch lanyard. Keep it handy in the boat where it can be seen, BUT NOT USED to defeat the purpose of the kill switch! The alternative is be prepared to be treading cold, cold water and watch you and your boat get farther and farther apart!

Cap'n Chuck

By Sean on Tuesday, March 13, 2001 - 10:59 pm:
Thanks for the slamming, Chuck.

Now, if only you had a clue, you'd have a point.

By mr jig on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 07:39 am:
Sean, would you do me the courtesy of clarifying for me your post above to Cap'n Chuck? I seem to having a senior moment and i simply don't understand your message.

Thanks.
mr jig.

By Woodchuck on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 08:43 am:
If I may speak for Chuck. If the pilot falls out and kills the engine by removing the lanyard, then the copilot should be able to remove another lanyard from his pocket, insert it, and start the engine and save the pilot.

By mr jig. on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 09:34 am:
Woodchuck, Chuck's meaning was clear... but thanks anyway. Now tell me SEAN'S meaning!

mr jig

By Woodchuck on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 09:46 am:
I see no venom directed from Chuck to Sean, therefore I can not explain Sean's response. I was just trying to put out a fire before it starts. In respect for Skip this is not the place for flames.

Woodchuck

By Sean on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 12:38 pm:
Maybe I'm missing something guys, if so I apologize.

On the current and previous boat I've owned, the kill switch is an irremoveable part of the boat. The lanyard attaches underneath the kill switch. If the operator is thrown from the boat, the lanyard disconnects from the kill switch because it is secured to the operators apparel. When this happens, the kill switch is turned off. In this situation, with the operator in the water with his lanyard attached to him, the boat can easily be re-started simply by flipping the kill switch (on the boat) back on again and then re-starting the motor. His post seemed to indicate, with a condescending tone, that if the operator went into the water, the motor couldn't be re-started because he had the only lanyard. Realistically, if the operator went in the water, I'd probably not be too concerned about a second lanyard for myself as I re-started the boat to go after him. Things would happen too quickly for most of us to think of that.

I don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill, and as I said, if I misunderstood something, I'm sorry. It's just that Chuck's reply seemed heavily laden with criticism directed at me.

By mr jig on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 02:59 pm:
Thanks Sean. Yes, you did miss the whole point of Chucks post which was intended to add to your excellent list of precautions.As you know kill switches differ brand to brand model to model.

If i went out of my boat with the lanyard,nobody i fish with could hold in the button,start the engine shift, steer and keep the damn button in. Chuck was simply suggesting that in an emergency an xtra lanyard might be valuable.

I have no idea how you found his post critical or condecending. On reading your response to his post, i was absolutely amazed that you thought he was addressing you at all. Funny how these things happen.

Best,
mr jig.

By Sean on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 03:52 pm:
I stand corrected, more mature, and a little wiser.

Thanks, Mr. Jig.

By Capn Chuck on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 04:11 pm:
I suspect that Sean and I have a better understanding of each other now than we did a little earlier on. Thanks to all who moderated!

Cap'n Chuck

By Barbara (Barbara) on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 05:57 pm:
One thing Chuck said is something that has always bothered me - I KNOW DIDDLY SQUAT ABOUT OPERATING A BOAT! I go out about twice a year with my brother, and it has never occurred to him to show me anything about the boat's operation. I've always been too inhibited to ask (YES, me - inhibited!), but it has nagged me. What the heck I would do if something happened to him and I had to figure out how to get us back!?!

I think I'll bring this up next time we're out and stop being such a weanie.

By BUTCH on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 08:10 pm:
I fish with a good ole' boy down here who fishes a lot with his boy. At age 8, that youngun could run full speed on the Mississippi river, drop his dad at the landing & pull that 18' bass boat on the trailer when his dad backed the trailer in the water. Point is he prepared that boy for the unlikely event that something MIGHT happen on the water and that young boy may have to get them back to safety. If the Rats untimely & tragic end didn't teach us any else, it should of taught us to EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!!!

By Al Pugh (Alpugh) on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 08:37 pm:
Sean, Chuck, I've seen both types, and never thought to understand how to operate as an emergency back-up. Sure, I probably could have figured it out, but in the heat of the moment????

Good point, Chuck, and Sean, now that I know there are different types, I have some more learning to do.

Amazing how some things are lost. It's been over 10 years since I had a U/I (under instruction watch, a "student") on a panel, but back then, I used to teach them all to play "what if." What if this or that or the other happened? It's a good game, and you two playing it may keep one of us alive one day.

Take care.

By Al Pugh (Alpugh) on Wednesday, March 14, 2001 - 08:38 pm:
Shesh, that was clear as mud. "Both types" in the last post meant those I could have two handed, and those I'm pretty sure I couldn't have.