If my small boat sank off the coast of the USA and I did not have a lifepreserver or vest...?

Question

What would I do? Should I take my clothes off? I heard clothes weigh you down in water? I also heard that you should keep your shoes on because they can help you float??

Serious answers please.

Answer 1

first off, it would be really dumb, to go out in ANY type of boat, without an approved flotation device, as well as being illegal to do so.

that being said, you should hope that someone smarter than yourself, happens to come along & help you out

Answer 2

Floating on your back or doing a backstroke to swim would also  save valuable energy until help arrives if you can't swim back.

Answer 3

Save yourself the trouble and just wear your life vest.

Answer 4

Serious Answers Please!

Well to me you are shark food....to go out in the ocean without the required Coast Guard Equipment is just plain foolish and stupid.

They taught us in the Marine Corps how to make a temporary, only TEMPORARY life preserver out of our pants, this was in case we feel over board while going over the side into landing crafts ( which they no longer do) with help CLOSE.

Get the required US Coast Guard Equipment and make sure you boat is sea worthy and you know how to handle that boat in all weather conditions or you will end up Shark food!

Answer 5

What happened to your life vest? It is illegal to not have enough vests for everybody on-board. You could be fined if the coast guard or local DNR police check you. So if you ignore all the required safety equipment, you can use pants to create a floatation device. Tie the legs at the ankles and scoop them full of air by lifting and pulling down quickly. In colder water you want to be sure to tuck your legs close to your body. This will help keep in your body heat. If you can see the shore you can swim for it. If you cannot see the shore you are better to stay put and try to signal help. Hopefully you filed a float plan with somebody but probably not since you did not have life vests. Lastly pray and curse yourself for not following the safety regulations that are there to help you in this type of situation. About the wet clothes weighing you down, this is false the water in your clothes is not heavier than the water your floating in. The extra water is heavier than the air when you get out of the water.

Answer 6

Your clothes only weigh about 3-5 pounds, which wouldn't be enough to counteract your breathing, which would make you more buoyant. Absolutely keep them on, or you will freeze. Plus how embarassing would that be when you're rescued? Kep your shoes on too, as they will keep your feet warm. your feet contain much of your body heat.

Many ocean drownings occur just 5 miles from the shore, so try to swim back. If you hit a current or rip tide, swim parallel to it instead of against it, as that will just tire you out.

Check your boat for holes!