Do you know how to swim?

[V]

I got knocked out while kneeboarding once when I faceplanted into the water hard. Tubing, kneeboarding or skiing without a life jacket is just plain stupid.

Although once when I was a kid, maybe 7(?), I got trapped under my kneeboard, and the straps didn't let go, so I couldn't get back above water. The spotter had to dive out and rescue me. That was terrifying, although I'm glad it didn't keep me from going back out there.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Sliver

I don't get this. Whenever I go boating with my friends, they look at me like I'm a complete nerd when I put on a life jacket. I know how to swim just fine, but I still don't trust myself to make it back to shore if something happened or if I was injured in a boating accident. It seems really stupid to get into a boat without a life jacket no matter how well you can swim.

So if you get on a Ferry, you're the guy wearing a life jacket?

[polak]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

So if you get on a Ferry, you're the guy wearing a life jacket?

Oh my god is that a thing?

[Sliver]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

So if you get on a Ferry, you're the guy wearing a life jacket?

Haha good point. I guess I make exceptions.

For recreational boats in Canada there is a legal requirement to have:

"one Canadian approved personal flotation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board"
But they won't help if you're not wearing it!
Lifejacket's and PFD's: http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/marinesafety...ation-1324.htm
Videos from a wave pool. It's amazing how quick people get into trouble. See how fast you can spot the drowning victim: https://www.youtube.com/user/LifeguardRescue11/videos