'Twas a Beautiful Day for a Salt Water Swim

D

DaveS

New member
For the past two days I've been taking a 16 Hour N.F.P.A. Marine Rescue Class in Anacortes (Wa.). Yesterday was all classroom and today was all "on the water" practical skills. In order for all of us to more fully "appreciate" :disgust what it is like to find yourself immersed in Puget Sound we all were instructed to jump into the water (at Cap Sante Marina), with only our swim suits on (no PFD's). At the end of 10 minutes we were to then exit the water. When the 10 minute timer sounded everyone got out of the water with the exception of "my buddy" and me.
We chose to stay in until another 5 minutes elapsed. By the time we exited the water our total time was 17 minutes. (The two of us are certain that we could have gone longer, but we didn't want to hold up the rest of the class). This was truly a good experience for us to more fully appreciate what a MOB would experience. (Realizing of course that we were in protected waters and not pounded by waves).

Participants in the class included Fire Departments from S. King County, Camano Island, Snohomish County, Skagit County, four of David M.'s compadres from Guemes Island and two Skagit County Sheriff Deputies. The vessels that we utilized were from the majority of these various agencies, so we had a variety to work with. (Unfortunately, none of the vessels had a 50 Cal. mounted on the bow for me to play with.... :evil: ).

If anyone has any interest perhaps we could incorporate the swim portion during next January's SBS/CBGT. (I was kinda thinking we could invite Jim (from the vessel "Wild Blue") to be the first to jump in the sound and then we could all follow...... :wink ). I'm right behind you Jim! :mrgreen:
 
Dave-

It'll be a "cold day in Hell" before you see Jim voluntarily swimming in Puget Sound!

In fact, that's about how he would describe it:

"A cold day in Hell",

-only with his customary humor and eloquence.

What is more, it might be even questionable as to whether you could get him to come of to spend a typical dreary January weekend in Seattle. I think he got his fill in the Dakotas over the years!

See ya' in January! (Already looking forward to it!)

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Oh, come on... I'll have you know that I can comfortably get in water as low as 87º. Anything colder than that, and I need my wetsuit. Anything colder than 70º and no flotation device or wetsuit will be necessary... the shock of the cold water would kill me! :shock:

I have been in Seattle in January twice... once to pick up an airplane and the other to go to the SBS and order our boat. At that time, we went out with Tom and Susan on the Susan E. The water temp was around 47º, if I recall correctly. When we came back to pick up our boat in July, the water temp was around 57º... and some of the crazy-ass people up there asked if we had gone IN the water.

I don't go IN the water in Texas in the winter, when the temp is down to the low 60s. We're not home yet, but the bay/surf temp should still be in the 80s.

Kidding aside, Dave has presented a very valuable bit of advice here. I was taught the 50/50 Rule with a MOB... you have about a 50% chance of surviving for 50 minutes when the water temp is around 50º. How fast could you get a MOB back onboard? If you are boating by yourself, do you have some way of getting YOURSELF back onboard if you go over?

Think it's easy? Go over fully clothed and see how easy it is to get back on the boat. Our two-step swim ladder requires a line to get back up. Can you use your motor lift to help? All good stuff to know before anyone goes in accidentally.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention, Dave.

Best wishes,
Jim (who thinks 103º and bubbles is just right for being IN the water)
 
What temp is the water in the sound?

I surfed twice yesterday with only a short john on. Our water is around 54. Really refreshing to take a dip. I probably surfed 4 hours yesterday and never got cold.

When I did the swim for the aux class our water was in the high 40's. We did it in the mustang survival suits. It would have been nice to have the dry suit on but everyone was excited about completing the swim.

Did you notice how much weight the mustang survival suit gains when it is submerged. Our tiniest swimmer had the weight of a sea lion when we pulled her back on dock.
 
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