Another Life Jacket Reminder

This just plain sucks for everyone, so so sad.

“A 45-year-old man drowned after jumping from his pontoon boat into a central Minnesota lake to save his 6-year-old son who went overboard, authorities said Wednesday.

Neither Daniel M. Suter, of Kandiyohi, nor his son was wearing a life jacket, said Kandiyohi County Sheriff Dan Hartog.

The two were fishing Tuesday evening on Bass Lake, about 5 miles southeast of Spicer, the sheriff said.

The boy swam back to the small lake’s shore and told his mother what happened, Hartog said. After the mother and son failed to locate Suter, the authorities were called.

Suter’s body was found in 8 feet of water, the sheriff said.

Minnesota requires one life jacket for every person aboard a boat. Also, life jackets must be worn by children under 10 years of age on any boat that is not moored or docked.”

Very sad.

Very sad, a 6 year old boy. My son is 5 so I get very mad at this guy but he learned the hard way at his kids expense. Shame

Very very sad..

Nobody likes big brother,,but I’m sure nobody likes reading these stories every other day too huh?

Horrible That’s pretty close to our cabin.

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drowned after jumping from his pontoon boat into a central Minnesota lake to save his 6-year-old son who went overboard,

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And that is the very reason I started wearing a PFD almost 100% of the time over 25 years ago. I knew it was going to be me going in if anyone (like my Favorite Daughter) fell overboard.

With today’s inflatables, this was a needless death.

Sad story indeed. My boat doesn’t leave the dock unless all kids under 16 or anyone who is not a strong swimmer doesn’t have a life jacket on.

Mandatory Child Life Jacket Wear Law:
Minnesota law requires a U.S. Coast Guard
approved life jacket to be worn by children
less than 10 years old when aboard any
watercraft while underway. Underway means
not attached to a permanent mooring or tied
to a dock. There are exceptions to the wear
law for:
(1) children who are below the top deck or
in an enclosed cabin,
(2) children aboard passenger vessels being
operated by a licensed captain,
(3) children on a boat that is anchored for the
purpose of swimming or diving

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Sad story indeed. My boat doesn’t leave the dock unless all kids under 16 or anyone who is not a strong swimmer doesn’t have a life jacket on.

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I don’t care if you are Mark Spitz. My boat doesn’t move. Wear one or get out.

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Sad story indeed. My boat doesn’t leave the dock unless all kids under 16 or anyone who is not a strong swimmer doesn’t have a life jacket on.

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I don’t care if you are Mark Spitz. My boat doesn’t move. Wear one or get out.

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EXACTLY…and the only time they came off in the past was for photos, but since I fixed the reflection problem at night…they stay on until I remind people to leave them with me before they go home. LOL!

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Sad story indeed. My boat doesn’t leave the dock unless all kids under 16 or anyone who is not a strong swimmer doesn’t have a life jacket on.

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I don’t care if you are Mark Spitz. My boat doesn’t move. Wear one or get out.

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EXACTLY…and the only time they came off in the past was for photos, but since I fixed the reflection problem at night…they stay on until I remind people to leave them with me before they go home. LOL!

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Brian are you using the full vest / jacket type or the narrow strap style? What brand did you decide on and will they activate in a rain?

Vest only.

The jacket with the zip in vest underneath.

How does your jacket compare to the competitions? Why is it different?
Float-Tech is less bulky, lighter and more versatile. Inflatables have stricter performance requirements than your average foam lifejacket. Our inflatable has significantly more buoyancy than foam lifejackets and will turn your head out of the water if face down.

Float-Tech also has a wide neck design and lays flat in the shoulders for better comfort. It is the only USCG approved lifejacket that can be worn alone or zipped into an outer apparel and still exceed USCG standards for an inflatable.

In addition, the Float-Tech system packages a lightweight boating jacket that is waterproof and breathable that will keep you dry in the rain, yet light enough and versatile enough to wear in varying temperature conditions. The major advantage, its like wearing a jacket versus wearing lifejacket.

How does Float Tech save your life?
Float-Tech is designed to give a victim an increased rate of survivability. When inflated, it will turn a victims head out of the water, and floats them at a high and proper angle to avoid drowning, this increases the victim’s visibility in the water and keeps them from drowning and increase their likelihood of being saved.

In my own words, it’s the MOST comfortable PFD I’ve ever worn. Others say the same after being in my boat.

I’ve used the Float Tech Vest/Jackets four seasons now. We’ve been in some cat and dog rain down pours. Never have they gone off because of rain.

Discussions such as this convinced me to buy a float-tech years back, I never wore much before then and always do now. I read a story similar to this one, guy my age with young kids in the boat, kids got to watch as dad got dragged under never to be seen alive again. I though to myself never will my kids go through that, and as long as I have a say they will be wearing all the time also. The new jackets take away almost every complaint I had, no reason anymore to not wear for me.

I also have the Float Tech system. Very nice and the price isn’t bad when you consider the alternative.

Sad story. I fish alot with my 4 1/2 year old grandson and I make him wear a life jacket all the time. I am a good swimmer and usually don’t wear one but with all the stories today I am going to start wearing one and everyone in my boat will too. Everything happens so fast.

Jeff

I grew up on and in the water, padi certified even. Problem is you can’t keep your head above water when you’re ko’d, and often times you’re taking a rap to the noggin before you go for a dip. Took me a while to figure that out. All this talk has now got me thinking about a kill switch too, that would be my luck to get tossed but have the float tech on, and then get ran over by my boat repeatedly.

I’ve replaced my kill switch tether because it was worn out.

I’ll admit, I use it less in daylight but that suckers attached to my Float Tech every night/morning on the way in.

Very sad story. I have a 6 year old son. I make him wear a jacket even on the dock – I can’t imagine him in my boat without one on! Still….no one deserves to go through that.