Went swimming yesterday

[Bodean]

Fortunately, I am alive today to write this report. Yesterday morning (Friday, Jan. 3rd) at approx. 4:15, I sank my hunting partner's 16 foot modified v boat with a 25 Go-Devil. The entire event occurred in a matter of seconds as I ran up on a snag & swamped the back of the boat in six-eight feet of water on the edge of a ship channel. The boat went to the bottom. I had my life preserver on and buckled as well as neoprene waders. The shore was not too far away, but it was a challenge due to the waves and a strong falling tide. Seven boat passed within 150 yards of me in the dark without responding to my whistle (black acme thunderer). The temperature was in the low to mid 40's with a stiff N-NW wind of 20 mph or so.

There was no opportunity to "grab" a second life preserver that had been at my feet. Folks, wear your life preserver. I was only going a 1/4 throttle but slide of the snag quickly and with no sound.

With the help of the nearby marina operators and an oyster lugger & crew, we are able to recover the boat and some belongings.

I read the different opinions about neoprene waders on this page and think this is a topic worthy of considerable study, discussion, & debate. Yesterday, I thought only a small amount of water had actually entered my boats. Boy was I wrong. Several hours after the swim, I took off my waders while on the oyster boat and discovered my clothes were completely soaked. However, there was no other water in the boots. I never went completely under with the boots on. Perhaps my experience would have been different if I had gone completely under. I stayed decently warm despite the wet clothes as long as I kept the waders on. I started getting cold when the waders came off.

Some Memphis duck hunters in the 1970's made a home movie of what happens when you fall in with waders. The movie was shot in a swimming pool and demonstrated flotation when you bend your knees as others have reported here. My opinion is that few people would have the presence of mind to bend their knees to capture air when thrown unexpectantly into the water.

I suspect the Coast Guard or some marine institute or agency has compiled stats or guidelines about waders & water survival. Does anyone here know of any "authorities" on the subject? I am not trying to diminish the collective wisdom present on the site by suggesting we look somewhere other than our own opinions. I just know opinions don't count for much when you hit the water in the dark.

WEAR YOUR LIFE PRESERVER or FLOAT COAT.

[Meeka]

Glad you are ok and thanks for the detailed report. It sheds much light.

Questions:

What do you figure the water temp was?
How long were you in?
How do you explain the small amount of water that entered the waders? Did your life jacket float you so high or is there some other reason?

I take it you were by yourself in the marsh, in the winter, in a shallow draft boat, at night. A lot of us do the solo thing. I know I have, but have become more cautious.

I will probably think about your experience the next time I run at night in the marsh. It is always warm, but when it is calm and a good moon out, I know I have not put my life preserver on a few times. Even in that situation, if I hit something and were thrown out, something could happen to me or the tide could keep me from getting to the boat.

Which marina helped you out?

[CaptnT]

I took off my waders while on the oyster boat and discovered my clothes were completely soaked. However, there was no other water in the boots. I never went completely under with the boots on. Perhaps my experience would have been different if I had gone completely under. I stayed decently warm despite the wet clothes as long as I kept the waders on. I started getting cold when the waders came off.

I bought a camo neoprene suit years ago, I haven't seen another like it since. I am dry as a bone in the harshest conditions, but warmer days my undergarmets are wet from sweat, especially if I am wading. You would be suprised how much you can sweat under increased activity. I imagine you never swim much in your waders. Sounds like you took on some water over the top, but if you didn't get your feet wet I say you did better than expected.

You can stay warm even when wet if you wear wicking garmets next to your skin. I have two sets of military polypropolene (I only wear one at a time), over that a military wool sweater. Both are wicking garmets that keep you dry and warm. Over that I have the neo suit, and I am never cold until I get home and take them off. NEVER wear cotton next to your skin, it doesn't wick and doesn't insulate when wet.

Another trick is all those Walmart bags you are thowing away and keep them in you boat or coat. These can be used to cover your feet and hands in an emergency (under your wet socks, hands). You'll wrinkle up like a raisin, but stay warm enough. Plus they are good for storing trash, birds, or keeping things dry on rainy days.

Good to hear everthing turned out alright, I hope you were able to salvage enough to go after them again.

Also, did you happen to be standing when you fell?
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[Bodean]

Meeka & Capt,

The accident took place on the edge of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. I suspect the water temperature was in the mid to upper 40's, perhaps even the lower 50's. Certainly cold enough to pose some risk. The marina was Breton Sound Marina . . . some very fine folks.

I was wearing polypro but not even military polypro is going to wick a gallon or more of water. Capt, I never said anything about my feet. You can bet they were wet. I was standing up which is the standard way you drive a Go-Devil motor and some other rigs. I did not fall out of the boat as the boat sank out from underneath me.

Meeka, I went in over my waders more than once, but the jacket held me pretty high in the water. I did also have a hand on a smaller boat that is transported in the bigger boat that sank but was never able to get into the small boat due to decoys. I was not in the water that long the first time but went back in during the salvage operation (w/o clothes to speak of).

Have a good weekend.

[goosebruce]

Hey dude, remeber when i said you could borrow my rig andy time your up... Well, uh, it's in the shop.... Yeah, the shop thats it!

$#!+ man, glad your ok. Tough ride there bro. travis

[Meeka]

Tell me about that snag, cause I travel the MRGO frequently at night when it is warmer and I go like you probably did, from one marker to the next.

he jacket - was it a life jacket or a flotation jacket?

[Wingman]

Glad you're okay, Bodean. But the key in your situation was....LIFE JACKET. Waders or not, that life jacket probably saved your hide. With a life jacket, you don't have to worry about bringing your knees to your chest for flotation, or air trapping in your boots and making you swap ends. The life jacket did what it was supposed to do, kept your head up.
Yeah, the temperature of the water makes a difference of how long you can stay alive, but with 2 lungs full of water, it don't make a dang if the water is 85 degrees or 35 degrees.
Smart decision putting that jacket on when you left the ramp, dude.

Wingman

[judge jb]

i took my BIG dip on opening day.....all alone and scared to death.... never too old to learn.....

judge jb

[BigGun]

My father can vouch for the life jackets. He was a member of the tate county rescue squad for a long time. He himself pulled 6 or 7 people out of the lake with his hands. Every time I see him before I go hunting, he tells me he never pulled anyone out that was wearing a life jacket.

[Bodean]

Meeka -- There are several snags at different points w/in the junction of Bayou Loutre and the MRGO. I never noticed this particular snag before Friday morning. You are plenty safe from snags if you keep it in the main channels, but there is a relatively new snag in Bayou Loutre just after you enter it from the MRGO going towards Stump. I was wearing a standard life vest with buckles rather than a zipper. I prefer the buckles to zippers and also find the straps easier to adjust according to my clothes and expanding/decreasing gut.

GooseBruce -- That is too bad, but thank you for the generous offer anyway. I had a special place picked out to take your boat just off the MS River south of Memphis. Perhaps we can hunt there together someday.

Who among you uses a float coat or jacket?

[Unlucky Ducky]

Bodean....Glad you around to make your post. I am relatively new to duck hunting (4 years) and this is the first year I am hunting from a boat which I purchased in the fall. I am very leary of the water, in the dark, cold, etc....These post of accidents and thankfully surviors definatley keeps things in perspective. I was curious about wearing waders in the boat, with or without life jackets, whether or not a life jacket would keep your head out of water or whether even with a life jacket would waders full or water pull you under. I appreciate everyones post on situations like this, sometimes we have to shallow our pride when we admit things as this but realize your experience could help save someones life by them reading it. I have certainly learned some things and will ensure everyone in my boat has a life jacket on while running the rivers.

[Bustin' Ducks]

Bodean...Good to hear ya'll are ok....Life Jackets are the way to go!! Thank goodness you made it ok to tell the story!!

[Meeka]

I know how easy it is to get outa the LaLoutre channel, especially when the water is low. When you run LaLoutre at night, do you use a spotlight? If so, do you keep it on?

By the way, anybody catching any fish?

[RedEyed Duck]

Glad to hear that you are OK Bro..... Thanks for posting maybe a few more will be a bit more careful!

[injun_23]

Man that was quite an ordeal. Im really glad that you are ok and got the boat back too. Thanks for posting because I know that lives are saved from reading posts like this. I know that I will be more aware of safety issues as a result.