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Please let me add my second to Gnomes plea. We all hate life jackets, we all know how to swim, we all usually boat in shallow water, on small lakes or mild rivers. I was cured of that illusion on Lake Oneida when conditions became more than a 12 foot boat with a 9.9 motor could handle. I have boated quite a bit, I know what I am doing, I have been on far rougher waters in far smaller craft, I thought nothing of it. the lake was rough enough that turning needed to be timed with the swells. The boat was a rental and all I had was an old Kapok vest, soaking in 3 inches of water on the bottom of the boat. It was a mess and I did not put it on. I wathced the swells for a minute and picked the one to turn into, but just as I crested the preparing to turn on the back side into the trough to quarter the next swell I was hit by a sudden blast of wind. The bow of the boat went up like a sail and came crashing down on the Front side of the swell. I had lost the tiller because of the violence of the wind gust, the boat landed on its side, took in a lot of water but righted. I was dead in the water, I had hit my head on the gunwal and was seeing some stars, the motor had died and I was broad side to the waves. I managed to get the engine started and regain control. The entire episode lasted all of 30 seconds. It took you longer to read this post than that life or death experience lasted.

I was lucky. I was more than a mile form shore in 4 and 5 foot swells by myself. The boat was just an open jonboat and would have gone down like a stone, I had only seen two other boats all day, and there were none in sight. A brown bobbing head in 4 foot swells is invisible anyway and swimming over a mile in that kind of rough frothy 60 degree water while fully clothed is not possible, for anyone let alone a weekend warrior. The only chance I would have had would probably have gone down with the boat or floated out of reach by the time I recovered from the head hit. I now wear a life jacket, religiously.

I have several vest type jackets but find them too uncomfortable towear, especially in the summer. I now have two inflatable suspender vests. One that inflates automatically if it hits the water for the salt and one i trigger for ponds lakes and rivers. They are light comfortable and do not restrict movement. They cost about a hundred bucks, more than many wish to spend, but had that 30 seconds on lake Oneida gone the other way I would not be typing this story now. And believe me that is worth a hundred bucks.