Wanted! Your Boating Safety Tips

[IceFishingGod]

This may sound stupid coming from a guy named IceFishingGod but, extra bilge pump. I always keep an extra pump rigged with alligator clips in case the one I have quits. Make sure it's the submersable type with a built in filter and a fairly high volume out put. Put an extra long hose on it. Even if you have a small boat you never know when the waves will come up in a freak storm, even on smaller lakes. Not only has this rig saved my butt once it helped out several others on the water. I hope you never need it but like all safety gear you may wish you'd spent the $80.00 instead of losing your boat or worse. I know I was only supposed to post one but I can't resist, I'm trying to beat TubeDude in the longest average post contest. (Pred tells me you all are giving away Llamas to the winner). If you, like BLM, fish the open water in the cold, think about neopreme total body underwear. Its warm, keeps you afloat and will keep you alive in very cold water. When I was younger I worked the commercial boats out of Connecticut and it was standard issue. Now they have survival suits which are expensive, over a grand a piece. You can pick up a set of neos for under $200.00. They'll keep you alive in really cold water much longer, without them you've got 10 minutes MAX. If you think I'm wrong talk to a SCUBA diver.

Remember, the best piece of saftey equipment you can have is your brain. I didn't realize this until my son (BEAN) was old enough to fish with me. I used to take too many chances until he was with me. Now, if I have to think twice about what I'm about to do, I go home and bore the hell out of my wife. She'd miss me, afterall, who would take care of the Llamas?

IFG