Another Tragedy It's just not worth it!

[Shooter]

That is a tragedy. One thing I learned some years ago is that a lot of these smaller ponds have VERY soft bottoms, so even if you get into shallow water, you sink! My wife got out to save her flip-flop of all things and nearly sank in 3ft of water!

[JIM MARCUM]

I totally agree that a united "don't swim to retrieve a boat" is an excellent concept. The times I've swam after my sinking gas boats was at the Model Boat Basin in San Diego's Mission Bay. The pond is salt water & about 75 yds by 150 yards & 8' deep. The wind will usually blow the boat to shore if you forgot the tennis ball & pole, but I only swam for it if it was going under. I won't put my electric baots in saltwater for obvious reasons. At the "secret lake" I've been using for my electric boats I stay downwind so it will float to shore, eventually. Niether pond is a NAMBA site for power or electric boats. The Model Boat Basin is a NAMBA site for sail boats only. I'm an expert swimmer, a professional SCUBA diver & can easily free dive to more than 45' deep. What I do is not something I would NOT recommend this for anyone else. Especially at any NAMBA pond. JIM

[BakedMopar]

IMO using a blow up raft is just as risky as swimming for a boat. We all talk about the dangers of sharp object that could slash you, boat powering up etc. The same can be said to that raft. Now you'll be in panic mode if that thing starts to loose air. I will agree on this "don't swim for a boat" in most situations. If you do use caution.

[electric]

IMO using a blow up raft is just as risky as swimming for a boat. We all talk about the dangers of sharp object that could slash you, boat powering up etc. The same can be said to that raft. Now you'll be in panic mode if that thing starts to loose air. I will agree on this "don't swim for a boat" in most situations. If you do use caution.

For the record, my boat has three seperate air chambers! The good news is it only cost me about 30 dollars and I am on my second season with it.

[Skullcracken]

You'd think the friend that swam and pulled him out of the water could have gotten the boat for him? Should have asked, not to be insensitive.

[Skullcracken]

Have to admit, I've fished my boats out a few times swimming for them, and I've had a hard time because I'm trying to hold the boat level while I'm swimming hoping to keep water off the electronics. I have an unrelated public service announcement: if you flip your boat, pull it out and set it to dry out. I was brining mine back in after a jet skier uprighted my EKOS that I rolled and I stupidly drove it back in. It started "twitching" on the way in then one motor full throttled on me and made the boat 90 degree it to the left into a parked ski boat. That could have been someones leg, or a kid.

[Jeff Wohlt]

Well hell...anyone think about a friggin life jacket at walmart for $16. I keep one of my fishing vest jackets on the shore should I decide there is no time for getting the kayak out. As long as the water is warm...no issues. Pretty simple to stay afloat!!

[T Nissen]

Swimming. This is sorta off topic, but.. I used to surf a lot on the West Coat (Huntington Beach and South of there) and there is no worse feeling than being out a big day (will call it 8ft to 10ft) and you duck under a giant wave and lose your board, then the leash that keeps you with your board snaps. There you sit floating...looking at your board happily going into shore and thinking...hmmm I have got to swim back in from God knows how far out I am through the surf and somehow make it to shore. AND you are alone, because you did a before work dawn patrol surf. Not a good feeling...chuckle.

That would suck. I've never lost a board heading out or had a leash snap but have seen it happen. What a waste too, all those double overheads rolling in and no one to ride them, lol.

[Stinger9D9]

I just went to the pond tonight and realized I didn't have my fishing rod with my when I got there. The wind was dead calm so if anything failed on the boat, it wouldn't be drifting to shore anytime soon. The pond's also far enough away from home that I can't just run home quickly to get the fishing rod - if the boat got stuck on the water, it would probably be gone once I got back.

I didn't even take the boat out of the car. I'd rather not run it when I have no safe way to retrieve it. Murphy's law tells me that the boat is just waiting to break once I have no way to bring it back.

I think I need a small rescue boat dragging a tennis ball along on a tether (maybe a reef racer). It's a bit more slick of a solution than a fishing rod anyway.

[ejimbo4]

Hello to everyone! My name is Jim and I will soon be getting into the boat side of RC! I have been into trucks for the last few years and understand that they have absolutely nothing to do with boats except for the power plant pretty much so I have been doing a lot of research before my first purchase and then this thread pops up! They actually suggested swimming as a form of retrieval at my LHS here recently and I actually considered because........I have grown up around water all my life and figured if I HAD to I could swim for it! After reading this it makes me feel a lot better about my purchase earlier today!

http://www.emotionkayaks.com/HTML/Kayaks/mojoangler10.html

Now I will be able to enjoy two of my favorite hobbies... RC and Fishing!!!!

And found a pedal boat so me and my wife can enjoy together!!

Thanks for having me on the forum and I am so looking forward to my first boat and learning something new!!!

[Skullcracken]

How much was that. I've been considering a kayak.

[Stinger9D9]

Wow that's a nice kayak! I bet that was a pretty penny.

It sure would be nice though, I could go run in a lake rather than a smelly, goose poop pond!

[Simon.O.]

Not one to thrash a deceased equine here but I'll add my 2 cent worth again.
I stood and watched a hull of mine sink to the bottom this morning and at no point did I even consider a swim for it.
I also turned 80 laps in the pool yesterday so I am well aware of my skills, I am also aware of the dangers of an impromptu swim while my head is not clear.
I had a diver (a good mate) recover the remains of my hull later today.

See my thread for the damage
http://forums.offshoreelectrics.com/...754#post339754

DO NOT SWIM FOR IT !!

[ejimbo4]

My friend got it work for nothing it has never touched water and he didn't pay anything so I offered him half the value as long as he delivered! LOL! He is a good friend and I lucked out but I will not ever swim for my rig after this thread so thanks guys! As soon as I figure out what I am going with i will let you know!

[siberianhusky]

Today John Mclean and I were running off his full sized boat, really hot beautiful day so we decided to try the life jacket retrieval. Let me tell you trying to swim for a boat and push it back while wearing a life jacket is hard!
I have a very physically demanding job and am an excellent swimmer but after my second "swim" I was feeling it. At no point was I at all worried about not being able to make it back to the boat but it took a lot more out of me than just swimming a couple hundred yards would have!
I could easily see how somebody in not to great a shape could end up in trouble pretty quick even wearing a life jacket.
The distance would have been a nice recreational swim if I were just going out to the boat and back, nobody would ever have thought twice about swimming that distance.
My advice now is don't get in the water to go after a boat life jacket or not!