Adventure's Outdoors'

In Wisconsin

After reading "The Big Spill" you probably noticed several thing’s we did or did not do to create what happened. Some good and some bad. Obviously putting on the life vests was critical and made survival possible. After leaving the boat and not calling the dog was in my opinion also critical as the dog could have tried to climb on us making swimming impossible. But their was also a lot of thing’s we could have done to change the events.

Overloading the boat is the thing most people see after reading the story, yet it’s overlooked often while hunting. With large quantities of decoy’s, equipment, hunter’s, a dog, a boat blind, four grass mats that were soaked with water, a hundred and eighty pound mud motor, a full six gallon gas tank, gun’s, food, anchor’s, oar’s, battery and wooden platforms covering the boats interior, the vessel was definitely a tad overloaded. Bringing only necessary equipment and perhaps towing another smaller skiff or jon boat to hold the decoy’s could have changed thing’s. The wooden platforms and compartments are great for fishing but do add substantial weight.

One of the biggest mistakes was taking a mud motor out on big water. Anyone that has driven a mud motor whether a go-devil, beavertail, or mud buddy knows the sensation of the handle moving downward at high speeds. This causes the prop to come out of the water. This condition can be adjusted by actually bending the fin above the prop. Still, because of the design to be able to go in very shallow water, the prop can only be adjusted so far. As waves lift the boat, the prop comes out of the water making the boat uncontrollable. Not being able to turn the boat and losing power the boat spins into the wind creating the boat to parallel the waves. Then after the boat takes in water its just a matter of time before it capsizes.

Having a lower unit as on a standard outboard gives you more control in rough water as the prop stays in the water. Using a mud motor on big water, on a calm day presents no problems, but beware if the wind picks up. Stay close to the shore, or better yet stick to shallow water.

Other subtle mistakes were also made. After dropping the four grass mats in the water they became extremely heavy. This increased the weight of the boat substantially. We could have simply left the mats on the island. After heading back in, we went straight across the river heading east to the landing. A much safer route would have been to head north up to more protected waters near the islands, then east, then south. Although this would have increased our time getting back, we wouldn’t have encountered as rough of water.

Equipment could have helped the situation too. Number one on the list would have been keeping our cell phones in a zip lock bags in our pockets. This alone could have shortened our time in the water considerably. Although we had 2-way radios with us, they were useless when wet. When the boat capsized all emergency equipment (flares, horn and whistle) all went to the bottom. If the emergency equipment was secured to the boat we could have possibly used them. If I had a bucket tied inside the boat maybe we could have up righted the boat and bailed it out. The oars also floated away. If the oars were secured we could have used them to row after bailing.

Although because of the boat rolling, debris in the water, current and wind, it would have been difficult to get back to the boat. Its generally better to stay with the craft.

Bob was smart to wear his neoprene waders. Although they made him heavier, they kept his body temperature higher than if he didn’t have them on. I had insulated coveralls on, not only weighing a lot when wet, they also had little insulating capabilities.

Keeping a better eye on the weather and leaving earlier might have helped. We did leave earlier than expected but would have been much better off leaving one or two hours before. The weather forecast the day before predicted winds up to 20 mph. If we would have changed plans and hunted a more protected area the spill would never have happened.

To prevent this from happening again, as this is my second time sinking while duck hunting, and three strikes might mean I’m out, I have taken several precautions. I will keep a close eye on the weather. I won’t go out on big water on rough day’s. I won’t take a mud motor where it doesn’t belong. Keep it shallow. I will insulate myself with light clothing underneath a waterproof shell and keeping my neoprene waders on will help. Suits that wind surfers wear would be great. And of coarse wearing your life jacket. Get the proper size with the right buoyancy. According to the Coast Guard, the more physically fit you are the more buoyancy you will need. The more body fat you have the less you will need.

None of this matters if your not wearing your life jacket. In cold water your legs wont kick very long to keep you a float. Nine out of ten drowning victims die on inland waters not wearing their life vest. Mine saved my life. Not as fortunate were the two young duck hunters who died out on Lake Winnebago in 2003. They were found dead without their life vests on. Their life vests and oars were found in their car.

I now secure all necessary emergency equipment to the boat including oars and a bucket (to use for bailing). I also pack an extra set of warm clothes in large zip locks along with a cell phone in my pocket wrapped in a zip lock bag.

Remember, if something bad happens try not to panic and fight for your life. Never give up. Many times during my 2 hours a float in the river I wanted to just go to sleep. Thinking about my family kept me going.

The Coast Guard estimates that in 50-60 degree water a person will become exhausted or unconscious within two hours and will only survive one to six hours without medical treatment. In 50 degree or colder water the victim can lose consciousness in less than 30 minutes and will only survive for one to three hours. We were very close to the end of that time limit. Swimming can also cut your survival time in half. If you can, stay with the boat and concentrate on curling up, staying warm and surviving.

There are a lot of stories you’ll never hear because the boaters lost their lives. Be prepared and stay alive.

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