Boat Safety

This is a serious thread for boat safety recommendations.
Please try to keep any discussion on here strictly to the point, posts veering off-topic are discouraged and likely to be split out!

A few starting links:

• Information for boaters on the River Thames (EA)
  
• A Users Guide to the River Thames (EA)
  
• Recreational Users Guide (PLA, tidal)
  
• River Etiquette for Boaters (Thames Motor Boaters Association)
  

Pinched from another forum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=J1xohI3B4Uc

I fell in off the back of the swim platform bit of our cruiser in the middle of December 6 years ago ,Slippery surface due to moisture turning to ice as the sub set around 4pm ,I only went into my chest as my legs hit the outdrive leg under the water giving me a chance to grab the bar at the back of the swim platform .....cold jesus you lose all strength straight away and i couldnt pull myself back onboard as the platform was a foot or so above water level.....now you stop thinking straight the cold confuses you and i was about to let go and swim around the floating pontoons of the marina to find a one of the ladders that are there in the water for such a reason......doubt i would have made it in the darkening light...there was a bloody extending ladder 6" from my arm on the boats swim platform that i had forgoten about ...the bloody cold made my mind go blank ...office of marina had shut and it could of been tragic lonely place in the water on your own as it gets dark .
My point is the cold you can`t believe how cold the river is unless you have had the missfortune to fall in .
Matt a fellow portaboaters site has a good bit added on boat and cold water safety ,Watch the video in the link
http://www.hechtjaeger.co.uk/styled-12/index.html
in short wear a lifejacket and a floatation suit as well so much the better...just looking for one now face .
Steve

Just realised same vid as Andrzej

Good post Steve mate. I hope people read it and take note of your words and the video.

Anyone who does watch it, you can see the volunteers are very much in trouble - the water was in 45 degrees fahrenheit. The Lower Thames was 44 yesterday

Couple of years ago I fell into river Great Ouse (no lifejacket )and I'm really lucky to be here today.
It was middle of October and the water was about 55 degrees ,I had about 15 -20 feet to swim to the bank but struggled.
Just can't imagine what would have happened if the water was colder
We all think we are good swimmers and nothing will happen but cold water will kill you in minutes.

Another useful site;


River Thames closures, restrictions and conditions See Here


Richard

Keep em coming chaps, important information. Just been past my local stretch and its beginning to look very angry. Amazed the number of rowers and sailors out zipping round Ravens Ait.