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RAY
SCOTT OUTDOORS Boating Safety Is No Accident “Boat
Smart From the Start…Wear Your Life
Jacket” Urges Coast Guard PINTLALA, AL (May 1, 2000) – The “Boat Smart From the
Start…Wear Your Life Jacket” is the message being sounded by the U. S.
Coast Guard’s May 20-26 safe boating campaign. More
often, than not, recreational boaters don’t listen.
Sometimes, even, professional tournament anglers are victims of unexpected boating
mishaps. As producer-director of “The BASSMASTERS” cable-tv series
on The Nashville Network (TNN), Bob Cobb remembers such a case all to well: David Fritts is circling the boat, as is his practiced method for
landing a bass. At times, the North Carolina
pro appears to be leading the fish as if it was a dog.
The object is to wear the bass to the point it can easily be belly-lifted into the
boat. After numerous trips around the 20-foot bass rig, Fritts moves to the driver’s seat behind the console and holding the rod in his right hand, leans out
to carefully get a grasp under the largemouth’s belly with the left hand. But, with a last effort the bass wiggles free, and
David leans to grab hold. Thus, the famous
“Fritt’s Flip” is recorded on videotape as one of the all-time great
bassin’ bloopers. As cameraman Amos Postoak rolls tape, David Fritts slides over the gunnel, headfirst into the water and is submerged clear to his tennis shoes. Much to viewer’s amazement, Fritts bobs to the surface, still holding his rod and reel, and coolly flops the bass – still on the worm hook – into the boat. But, getting Fritts back aboard adds an unexpected drama. Luckily, Fritts is able to hand-over-hand around to the stern. His life jacket – required by B.A.S.S. (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) tournament rules to be worn and zippered anytime the big motor is cranked is resting on the driver’s seat with the kill switch attached. “Had David Fritts hit his head falling out of the boat the outcome would not have been the least bit funny. His partner admitted being less than a qualified lifeguard,” says Cobb. Even after reaching the stern Fritts has a problem. “Fully clothed in a rain suit and heavy gear, David struggled to crawl into the boat,” recalls Cobb. “Finally, a member of our tv crew suggested his partner use the outboard motor trim switch and have Fritts climb on the cavitation plate and be lifted out of the water. It worked, almost as good as a boat ladder,” Cobb adds. The kicker in the video blooper is David Fritts, now safely in the boat, looks at the camera: “You’re not filming all this are you?” Amazingly, the wireless microphone – inside David’s rain suit pocket – didn’t miss a word. Why the mic failed to short out is an unknown mystery. “However, one unanswered question on fishing safety – about wearing a life jacket has been solved,” believes Ray Scott, the founder of B.A.S.S., and long-time leader in bass boating safety. “Recently, the U. S. Coast Guard approved a new automatic inflatable life vest – SOSPENDERS by Sporting Lives, Inc. – that’s so comfortable you’ll never need to take it off during fishing and boating activities,” opines Scott. “Like a pair of suspenders, the safety vest is a
life-saving support system,” explains Scott. “The
original SOSPENDERS model with the U. S. Coast Guard seal required a ripcord to be pulled
to activate the CO2
cartridge to inflate the vest. Now, the automatic inflation feature is fully
approved as a personal flotation device (PFD) by the Coast Guard.” As noted with the
infamous “Fritts Flip,” a boating or fishing mishap can happen so unexpectedly. “While laws require that a Coast
Guard-approved PFD be on board for everyone in a boat,” says Scott, “there’s
no requirement to wear them, or even have one handy, unless you’re a contestant
in a B.A.S.S. – type tournament.” As a national agency,
the U. S. Coast Guard works to promote and educate the public as evidence the
current “Boat Smart from the Start” life jacket wearing campaign. “But without a mandatory wearing of life
jackets regulation the message, often, is unheeded,” declares Scott, a former member
of the National Safe Boating Council. Rear Admiral, Terry M.
Cross, director of operations policy for the Coast Guard, confirms, “Many lives could
be saved every year, if more people chose to wear personal flotation devices. Our statistics indicate that 80 percent of boating
fatalities were by drowning and 89 percent of the boating drowning victims were not
wearing a life jacket.” “As founder of the Bass
Anglers Sportsman Society,” adds Scott, “I’m proud of the boating safety
record established at B.A.S.S. Tournaments. Our efforts to require the wearing of life
vests, use of outboard motor cut-off (kill switches) safety devices, and working with bass
boat manufacturers to develop up-right, level flotation are worthwhile achievements. “But, we need to
make it mandatory to wear an approved life vest when on the water in recreational
activities. I’m convinced, too, that
many more lives can be saved.” Scott is aware of the
problem as to why all boaters and fishermen “don’t boat smart.” He says, “Unfortunately, most popular
foam-type vests (Type III) are too bulky and hot. Boaters
simply won’t wear them, all the time, on the water.” Such an
“excuse” can lead to a tragic mishap. The
fact such an accident happened over 15 years ago is the reason Scott Swanby of Fruitland,
Idaho, the pioneer manufacturer of the inflatable SOSPENDERS, has carried on his campaign
to provide a better life jacket. A close friend of
Swanby’s drowned while duck hunting. His
life jacket was stowed in the boat. “I had to relay
the terrible news to his wife and children,” Swanby remembers. “As a result, we went on a mission to find a
life jacket that was comfortable for active sportsmen and sportswomen to wear.” Besides, the cool
– comfort and auto-inflate features, Swanby champions the SOSPENDERS over foam-type
life jackets. “Take the time to
read the warning label inside the foam type vest or on the hang tag,” suggests Swanby. “You’ll discover that vest is not
designed to turn an unconscious wearer face-up in the water. Its design provides a stable position in calm
water for persons floating with their head tilted back.” Swanby points out,
“On the other hand, the SOSPENDERS inflates in less than three seconds with 35-pounds
of buoyancy, twice the foam-type vest, and will turn an unconscious person face-up, and
with his or her head above the water.” As a rule, many state
regulations for boating safety do require that youngsters – 12 years and younger
– to wear an approved PFD on the water. Swanby says, at the
present, there is not an approved inflatable-size vest for youngsters. “However, we’re working with the Coast
Guard to provide such an inflatable life vest for younger boaters and hopefully Sporting
Lives can offer a choice in the near future.” Swanby says the
Sporting Lives inflatables are available at marine dealers and sporting goods outlets. Also, available is a
video demonstrating the new auto-inflatable model from Ray Scott Outdoors™, 238
Whitetail Trail, Pintlala, AL 36043. “This free,
four-minute video shows why I’m so behind the campaign to require life vest be worn
on the water,” says Scott. “I’m
convinced this will save more lives. You
can’t tell someone to wear it. But, get
the video and I’ll show you why wearing an automatic inflatable SOSPENDERS is boating
smart.” To demonstrate the new
auto-inflate SOSPENDERS, Scott is taped ankles, knees and with his hands behind his back
and falls overboard. The vest is fully
inflated in 2.6 seconds and Scott is shown floating face-up, still taped and unable to
swim. “It’s as near as you can
demonstrate being able to survive an accidental fall or being unconscious in the
water,” he says. “Call us toll
free at 1-800-518-7222 and request a free copy of the Coast Guard approved SOSPENDERS
Automatic Inflation video,” offers Ray Scott. “Let’s
work to save more lives. Boat Smart from the
Start. Wear Your Life Jacket. Each year more than 800 people die in
boating-related accidents. It’s a fact,
eight-out-of-ten victims chose not to wear a life jacket.” THINK SAFETY FIRST – Ray Scott, who pioneered the mandatory wearing of life jackets on the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society’s Tournament Trail, demonstrates the use of the SOSPENDERS inflatable life vest. Cool and comfortable to wear, the Sporting Lives automatic inflatable safety vest is fully inflated in 2.6 seconds with the wearer floating face-up. The typical foam-type vest is not designed to float an unconscious person face-up in the water.
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