Throw Cushion - make sure you have one!

[artcarney_agr]

Hey guys,

I was stopped by an Indiana Conservation Officer yesterday, on the Ohio, in 14-Mile Creek. They were actually up in the creek, tucked in behind a laydown in their big boat - you couldn't see them when entering the creek, which is what their plan was I guess. Anyhow, I was trolling along up in there doing a little flippin. They approached me and chit-chatted a little bit, and said they had been cracking down on jetskis and people running their outboards up in there, since it is posted as "electric motor only". They then checked for my Indiana fishing license, lifejackets, and for a throw cushion.

I had everything but the throw cushion - I had no idea it was a requirement! I thought it was required for boats over 25 ft. Anyhow, there were three of us, and four lifejackets - thought maybe the extra lifejacket would qualify...but it didn't. The officer said that since I had an extra lifejacket, that he would just issue a written warning.

The officer said that the rule was changed not too long ago

That was the first time I have ever seen an Indiana Conservation boat on the Ohio.

Anyhow, take a throw cushion with you, and be sure not to do any idling in 14-mile creek...they are out there, but only on weekends, or at least that's what they told me

[BPenrod]

Scott, I don't know about In., but I think here in Ky. throw cushion has always been anything 16' or bigger. I'm glad they just gave you a warning.

[Zach G]

There is also a law regarding that in someway that you have to have so much rope tied to your throw cushion as well. I dont know about it just hear say i dont have any rope on mine. so i dont know

[t.jones]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BPenrod &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, I don't know about In., but I think here in Ky. throw cushion has always been anything 16' or bigger. I'm glad they just gave you a warning.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I was stopped on Barkley Lake last memorial day and nothing was said about a throw cushion. Just checked tags, life jackets, and fire ext.

[NoAdd]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by flippinstic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There is also a law regarding that in someway that you have to have so much rope tied to your throw cushion as well. I dont know about it just hear say i dont have any rope on mine. so i dont know</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have heard that you need to have either 25 of 50 ft of rope tied to the throw cushion.

[artcarney_agr]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BPenrod &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, I don't know about In., but I think here in Ky. throw cushion has always been anything 16' or bigger. I'm glad they just gave you a warning.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe so, but in my 20+ years of boating in KY, I've never been asked for one, except for one time on the houseboat - which of course we had a throw ring, which is acceptable.

The Coast Guard regulations state that any boat 16 ft and over is required to have one. For some reason, 25 ft is stuck in my mind, and may have been the old rule, or maybe it was for something else, I don't know. The officer said it was changed recently, maybe in the last 2 or 3 years. Anyhow, I now have a throw cushion in my boat...makes for good padding in the bottom of my co-angler's storage box......

[Joe Skeeter]

Scott as long as I can remember you need a throwable device on a 16' or larger boat.(301 KAR 6:020)
For each person onboard a vessel,
federal as well as state law requires a
Type I, II, or III personal flotation device
(PFD) on all boats. Boats 16 feet
and over, except canoes and kayaks, must
also carry one Type IV throwable PFD.
Operators and passengers of personal
watercraft must wear a PFD. Persons
under 12 years of age must wear a PFD
while in the open part of a boat that is
under way.
PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICES

[Alliston64]

Good thing you got off with a warning man!

I can tell you this b/c I saw it happen the other weekend on Dale. If you get caught out after dark with no lights on, the ticket is $267. The officers on Dale are using night vision and heat seaking goggles to pick up your motor then pull you over.

We were hanging out with some people that it happened to!

[nitroteam]

I have stopped several times In 14 mile and in silver creek by co's they always check pfd's, throw cushions, licenses which I have both IN and KY, that just burns them up and they want to see fire extinguisher. Last time they stopped me they came up the creek in there John boat with the big moter, I had to ask as I was way up by the hwy. they said the posting did not apply to them go figure.

But anyway I don't have any rope on my throw cushions and have never had any issue and I go all over the country but that dose make since I am going to add some to mine tonight.


By the way how was 14 mile haven't been up there since the water came back down.


Modified by nitroteam at 5:47 PM 6/1/2009

[artcarney_agr]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nitroteam &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">By the way how was 14 mile haven't been up theer since the water came back down. </TD></TR></TABLE>


Still cold at the mouth (71), but warms up pretty quickly as you go in there, with the water starting to clear up some - only saw 73
Were LOTS of short fish in there, only taking small plastics like grubs.

[Zach G]

You know i went to madison to break the boat in and ran down that way and stumbled upon this creek which turned on to be 14 mile and we were stopped in there too. That was 2yrs ago they must really like that creek

[basshole45]

i found out a few yrs back luckily i did have one,,and the rope isnt necessary its just a suggestion i have a throwable then a rope buoy pack just in case,i had my boat certified with the coast guard aux its free and they give you a sticker and ever since i have had it done everyyear even if im stopped they notice that sticker and sumtimes ask for the paper and leave me alone dont even ask to see the items.So its worth the free time .Also learned quite a bit from the ol guy that does mine every year ,Especially electrical and other little tid bits that will eventually have to be done to certain boats.I also learned alot about other states since i fish in in,oh,mo,ky,and tn.so it has prob helped on those surprise you need one ordeals,But back on topic jet skis do fly thru there ive seen it many times and often wandered why they never patrolled there,,im guessing they do now,

[arjone01]

US COAST GUARD REQUIREMENTS FOR ALL MOTORIZED CRAFT ARE:

1 extra floatation device per number of people on board
A throw Cushion
Fire Ext.
A paddle
A horn, or air horn
And a bail bucket, ask a KY FWO and they'll tell you an electrical bilge pump will not suffice, you need a simple bail bucket.


Although they may not enforce that last one it is also a requirement that all craft have a bail bucket. Your electrical bilge will not suffice as the requirement, it has to be non mechanical in case of electrical failure. If you have a rubbermaid box for dry storing gear (has to be at least 1 gal.) it WILL suffice as a bail bucket. Just empty it out and bail. Something for some guys to think about although most don't really care it IS a requirement.

You don't hear a lot about the bail bucket since bilge pumps but know if the LEO wanted to be a jerk and cite you he could. Most just don't care though.

It's always been that way since I remember as a kid from my Dad lecturing me. Its never changed. They may not ask to see all or any at one time but these are all required on the boats we run. These are the most basic obvious that they'll ask to see in any boat over 16' that is powered.

[KyBigBassMan]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Alliston64 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Good thing you got off with a warning man!

I can tell you this b/c I saw it happen the other weekend on Dale. If you get caught out after dark with no lights on, the ticket is $267. The officers on Dale are using night vision and heat seaking goggles to pick up your motor then pull you over.

We were hanging out with some people that it happened to! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Is that just while the motor is running?

[Dan21XRS]

Then don't cone up to the Markland Pool. Every town and county has a Water Patrol Boat. I guess it's the casino money. They will check you on the way in a creek and then 15 minutes later check you as they leave the creek... It's nothing but a money grab... Dan

[arjone01]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KyBigBassMan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Is that just while the motor is running?</TD></TR></TABLE>

No, while sitting at night and blacking out to fish. I whitenessed a guy get a ticket right next to us for blacking out. He saw the boat round the corner and flipped his lights on like we all do to signal boat position for a running boat and the boat just continued to speed towards him and flip on blue lights, lucky us we flipped ours on for a boat coming just before him, I then heard the second motor and Mason left them on so as he came around we already had our anchor light on. They're bad to get you for that in TN on Dale.

[KyBigBassMan]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by arjone01 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

No, while sitting at night and blacking out to fish. I whitenessed a guy get a ticket right next to us for blacking out. He saw the boat round the corner and flipped his lights on like we all do to signal boat position for a running boat and the boat just continued to speed towards him and flip on blue lights, lucky us we flipped ours on for a boat coming just before him, I then heard the second motor and Mason left them on so as he came around we already had our anchor light on. They're bad to get you for that in TN on Dale. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Does that apply to KY as well?

[Z20basser]

The throw cushion is always one of the first items they want to see in Indiana. Guess that is their big ticket item.. Did he ask to see your paddle? Thats another big one on the river, that a lot of people don't have.

[arjone01]

Yeah, but the guys I've talked to over at the Island and guys that are buddies with my brother say they usually don't care as long as you flip them on when a boat is on plane near by. But if the guy wanted to I'm sure he could since black lights don't count for an anchor light.

[hulapopr]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KyBigBassMan &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Does that apply to KY as well?</TD></TR></TABLE>
yes it does but don't seem like they check as much as tenn. we didn't get a ticket but they came in on us and we were well in a cove out of the main lake,they told us to never turn off our lights,just the front running light when were fishin,and black lights on both sides don't count.
also got a warning on nolin doing the hear and flip method,if there are very many tournament boats,i.e,few clubs or like the fiddlers on rough or the big ones on barren that they know about,they will be out.the guys at nolin told us as long as you were in a cove they wouldn't bother you,but if you were in a navigational part of the lake,setting on points or even beating the bank you better have your white light on..
funny thing though,i never see them catch the jet skis,or the drunks tubing and skiiing at midnight around moutadier.