I'm currently slogging through the online test to get a boating license, and what little tidbit do I spy in silhouette?
Pipe Smoking Boat Operator
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Of course. They don't make a lot of money, but they are smart enough to figure out how to smoke a pipe in the wind. Since they are at peace with nature.
Hey that’s me in the picture! Good thing you’re taking the safety courses, I see a lot of really unsafe and downright stupid boaters out there. It only takes a second for things to turn really bad, really quickly if you’re not aware and vigilant. Not sure what the laws are in Canada or what type of boat you’re operating, but knowing boating safety and having all of your safety gear is incredibly important.
Alaska loses 20 people a year to boating deaths, most of them entirely preventable. People take it for granted because it seems so safe. It's usually not high speed, I can swim, it doesn't hurt to fall in the water, etc. But between weather, shockingly cold water temps even in the summer, wild currents, reckless boating, lack of life vests, underwater obstructions, wearing hip or chest waders while in a boat, and more......things can go bad fast, and when they do, many people are not prepared.
Yep. Absolutely true. The “I can swim” excuse is my favorite...yeah, you can swim, but not after your boat flips and lands on your head and you’re suddenly immersed in 40 degree water...here in Ohio, just about every lake over 200 acres or so has a drowning or two every year, usually fisherman in the colder seasons who go out when they shouldn’t, or don’t know how to operate a boat in bad conditions and end up swamping and then drown. You never *have* to go out, but you’ve always got to come back.
Which is not to say that boating is unsafe. If you do things right, don’t do things you aren’t comfortable with and always keep a mind towards safety, it’s safe and fun.
Yeah people don't realize how cold that water really is, and how much of an impact that can have on your bodies ability to swim. Sure you can swim in a swimming pool, but the temp difference between glacier fed river water and a swimming pool is even larger than the temp different between a swimming pool and a hot tub, but in the other direction. Shock is not uncommon.
I took a cold water survival class to get a merchant marine sticker, and we learned something called the 1-10-1 rule...which is, you have one minute to overcome the shock of being immersed and gain control of your breathing, because otherwise you’ll aspirate water and die. Then, you have ten minutes to attempt to save yourself-grabbing floating objects, climbing up on a capsized boat, anything that requires use of muscles because after ten minutes, you won’t be able to move enough to save yourself. Then, if you’re still alive, you have one hour before hypothermia kills you unless you are able to keep your core warm. That’s for 55 degree water.
I once stayed out wading in a shallow lake for a little too long. The waves were splashing up over my waders, soaking my coat. The water was 45, the air about 40, so for a while it wasn’t bad, but soon my friend noticed I was shaking, and his lips were blue like in a cartoon. We had about 200 yards of wading to get to the car, and by the time we got there we could barely stand anymore. I had to hold my keys between my palms to unlock my car, and start the engine. I was shaking uncontrollably and couldn’t speak. It took 45 minutes of blasting the heater for us to warm up enough to use our fingers. Another ten minutes out there and I’m positive one or both of us would have not made it back. The lesson I learned that day is that no walleye is worth hypothermia, and to wear a raincoat.
the weird thing is that's a grandpa and grandson smoking pipes.
yeah water is like way more dangerous and deadly then some of these fools think it is. Things can go south really fast and with little fan fare. "Hey anyone see Dave?" "yeah he was just swimming in the lake a second ago".
and how much better water is at sucking heat away from a person then air is.
Thats correct. Cold + water will kill you a hell of a lot faster than hot + no water.
yeah water is not a joke.
And not sure why this story is on this website but....
“Innocent-Looking” Stream Is The Most Dangerous In The World – Country Music Family
I've always thought it was kind of batshit that you don't need to take a safety course or a license to pilot a boat. I have done it a few times. It is different than driving a car! I've thought about maybe getting a boat I can take out into SF Bay or even the Pacific close to shore. I would definitely want to take some boating courses. For the piloting and safe operation, how to read charts and weather info, get help, etc.
Does the taller man also have a pipe in his hand or is he writing the smaller guy a ticket for smoking in a restricted area?
There are always a handful or more of boating accidents/deaths in the Middle River where we keep our boat and many in the whole of the Chesapeake bay every year. One of the main texts on boating safety has a picture of a boat stuck in a tree on the cover, put there by a drunk operator. That picture was taken not 2 nautical miles from our marina. Always got a kick out of that. Growing up on the water I was lucky to learn the rules and safety measures early.
Very good call to be learning and getting the license. Lots of good times ahead!
Hopefully the boat you end up on has a nice cabin you can smoke in out of the wind. Will you be sailing or motoring?
Very good call to be learning and getting the license. Lots of good times ahead!
Hopefully the boat you end up on has a nice cabin you can smoke in out of the wind. Will you be sailing or motoring?
Operating any boat with a motor in Ontario you need a license. I'll probably just use it for the little outboard motor jobs they will have up north.
Yikes! The videos really stress hypothermia and cold water shock. Its no joke.
Thanks, just want to give my kids an experience. I don't think they've been on a boat before.
Play nice Jay!"and what little tidbit do I spy in silhouette?"
Oh dear, another one that goes weak at the knees at the sight of someone smoking a pipe
Regards,
Jay.
I was actually quite surprised at how often this pipe smoking sailor appeared in the course. To show a man smoking a pipe anywhere is a rarity these days.
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