The question assumes you're not in the middle of the ocean, of course. Assume you're on a lake or within view of a shoreline.
2007-06-29 04:58:09 · 15 answers · asked by edwinwsmith 1 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Other - Outdoor Recreation
Several good ans. here about staying with your boat and I agree in most cases,however some good quality boats have extra floatation and can be bailed out from outside with patience and re entered ,and in the case of a canoe or boat without a heavy engine sinking the stern one or several people can sit on the FLOOR and paddle in a positive direction while waiting for rescue or toward shore now that's with floating devices on.If there are any swim fins one person even with one fin can keep warm and perhaps push a boat along way.My old 17ft. standard canoe Grunman full of water with 3 people sitting on botton of canoe can move through the water about 1/3 the normal speed .lol
2007-06-29 11:30:41 · answer #1 · answered by hunter 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is easier to spot a capsized boat than a man swimming in the water. Both from an aircraft and from another boat. If you are swimming, you may just get run over by another boat if they do not see you.
People often over estimate their ability to swim. If you do not have a life jacket on (which you should have had on before the boat capsized) you are just putting yourself at risk trying to swim for it.
If you leave the boat, technically it is ship wrecked and abandoned. Someone could claim salvage rights if they find it. Specially if it is in the ocean.
Hypothermia is a major problem. Even in water that you think is warm, your body starts cooling off. You lose less heat to the air. Stay with the boat, on the boat if possible.
2007-06-29 14:55:02 · answer #2 · answered by forgivebutdonotforget911 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was raised in South Florida this happens more than you might think, You should always stay with the boat, even if you can see the shore line, because if you start swimming and you get caught by a wave, get tired, or some other natural disaster you can drown, also sharks swim in shallow water just as much as deep water. Also a boat is a lot easier to see in the water than a person.
I would also recommend this in a lake, I lived on a lake and more people drowned from getting tangled up in the weeds than alligator attacks. when you get caught in the weeds you actually feel like you are being pulled under, you can panic and cause your self to drown even faster.
Even in the lake you cannot be sure what lurks under the water.
Always stay with the boat.
2007-06-29 12:06:57 · answer #3 · answered by NANCY J 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If the boat capsizes, and my husband was on board, I'd try and rescue him first, and just stay with the boat. He's disabled, and if I let him go, he'd sink.
If the boat capsizes and I am technically alone, and the shoreline is within visual, and it was getting dark, I would try and swim/wade toward the shore. Lie on my back and rest, then do forward breaststroke, backstroke(my strong suit).
If it's early/mid day, I would stay with the boat and try to wave someone down, if nothing happens after an hour or so, I would try to upright the boat, or simply swim toward shore.
062807 11:03
2007-06-29 12:03:31 · answer #4 · answered by YRofTexas 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Stay with your boat. In most cases that is the best answer. If you are wearing a life jacket and do not have kids you could swim back.
If you swim long distances on a regular basis and do not have a life jacket go for the shore.
Remember that swim is longer than it looks and even calm lakes can have unseen undercurrents that can pull you down and wear you out while swimming.
Best advice is to stay with the boat.
2007-06-29 12:03:55 · answer #5 · answered by Mike E 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It depends. Sometimes the shoreline can look closer than it actually is. If you are a professional swimmer and you know where you are, you might try to make the swim. If the boat is sinking, obviously, you've got to leave it. But if the boat is just capsized and you can hang on, I think the best thing to do is stay with the boat and yell like crazy. :)
2007-06-29 12:01:48 · answer #6 · answered by searching_please 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Depends on the tide and current I'd say. If you can salvage a piece to hold on to and the water isn't too cold you should stay so that the rescue will have an easier time finding you than if you got lost in a current when you were contained. If you are close enough to shore and the water is ice cold ... get out. People die from water that cold.
- Best advice is to stay with the boat if you can.
2007-06-29 12:01:34 · answer #7 · answered by ~Les~ 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It depends. If somebody has spotted the accident and asked for help, and I know for sure that a rescue is forthcoming, I'd stay with the boat and wait.
But if the shore is near enough for me to swim, I'd of course just swim to it, and ask for help in retrieving my boat...:)
2007-06-29 12:04:59 · answer #8 · answered by Tina 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
deppends on what area u are in... i mean,, u would not ask this question if ur thinking of situating ur senario in a paranna infested area,,, or a shark infested area,... even if u are in a dull and lifeless area, and no prospect of getting eaten alive,,, it is much safer to stick with a floating object, assuming the boat is still floating, than swimming, assuming that u can swim, to the shore, and face the prospect of swimming to a strong current and get swept into ur earlly retirement....
2007-06-29 12:04:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
erm, if its a rather small boat, paddle with the boat, because if you swim to shore, you might get to tired or something, and u get your boat back easily aswell, always wear a life jascket thingy though
2007-06-29 12:01:39 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋