"Circle of Death" / Boating

[MNeagle]

Paste not working for me: http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/162960756.html

[palani]

Helps to wear the wrist strap that kills the engine when you get thrown from the boat.

[slowbell]

Helps to wear the wrist strap that kills the engine when you get thrown from the boat.

I really came close to learning this lesson the hard way once. I was cruising along at a 20 plus mph in a small 8 foot inflatable, not wearing the wrist strap kill switch and caught air off of a wave. When the boat and me landed, my hand was instantly ripped away from the outboard motor. The outboard motor turned as far right as it could and the boat started spinning in circles. Half the boat submarined, filling it with water and almost threw me completely out of it. Thankfully I remained in the boat. Had I not remained in the boat, the outboard prop would have chopped me up pretty good.

Allows wear the kill switch, and furthermore test it to make sure it works. Also, be mindful of the wake (waves) your boat makes. You are responsible for that wake and the damage it can cause. A couple of years back, an old guy died trying to get on his boat in a marina. The boat was tied up, but some other boater had threw a big wake in the marina, knocking the old guy in the water. He hit his head and died. They found the boat that did that, and charged the guy with manslaughter.

[chad]

i've seen 2 people so far this year fall off their casting decks from wakes. i'm paranoid now, and wear all of the crap all of the time.

[Awoke]

I have been in that situation as a child. Scary. I made it back into the boat though.

[Santa]

"Every night my kids hug me and say, 'Thanks for not dying, Dad,'"

Haha...Well said. I'd like to say the same to everyone here today. "Thanks for not dying, ya'll." :)