I'm sure by now everyone is aware of the boating accident during the FLW Costa Series event on Okeechobbee last Thursday resulting in a co-angler still missing. At this point you have to assume the worst. It has made me think alot more about safety as I start gearing up for the upcoming season and I'm thinking about getting away from the A/M Inflatable PFD and going to a full vest. I have no idea what type of PFD the missing angler was wearing. It just made me think about how last year I had my CO2 cartridge fall out while I was pulling it out of the compartment and at the time I laughed and put it back in. But after this incident, I can't help but think of how easy it could be for it to come out or fail to discharge if you are ejected from a boat at speed. I hit a stump on Barnett in September at close to 70mph. That same event I talked with a guy at the ramp who hit a stump the day before and he and his son ended up in the water. When I marshaled for the Elite Series on Barnett in April we contacted a stump at WOT and got the boat sideways for a bit before getting it corrected. The lakes around here are full of plenty of hidden danger.
Lets be honest, my initial reason for going to the inflatable in the first place was because they look cooler than a big bulky vest. But I'm creeping up on 40 anyway so my days of being cool are behind me anyway. Regardless of what type of PFD you choose, make sure you wear it so we don't have any more tragedies. One is already too many. Be safe this year, guys.