I will agree that the cold water, weight of clothes, and distress will hinder the ability to get back in from the motor, but I also believe that your adrenalin will have a positive effect on getting back in. It was not simple getting back in, but very doable. I straddled the top of lower unit, reached around and trimmed up all the way, and shimmied my way up. I did this right after I bought my '07 20i, approx 2.5years ago. The HPDI engine is not as big and bulky as the SHO's. I'm not for sure I could wrap my arms around a SHO. I believe that I could do it again without a problem now. I will find another measure of safety if I'm not able to, I can guarantee that part!

A couple of years ago I was at the 515/17 public ramp at Fork. My boat began drifting away from the ramp so I thought I would just swim out about 15 feet grab it and swim it to the dock. I had on jeans, water shoes T shirt and Bass Pro Sweat shirt. You cant imagine how much that weighs when it is wet. Gave up trying to grab the boat. It was all I could do just to swim back to the ramp and grab hold. Another boater came by and pushed my boat to the shore. And this was late Spring. You fall in when it is really cold, you're in a lot of trouble and you better be able to get your big heavy shoes off fast and have a plan to get back in the boat. Years ago I would just jump over the side of the boat in the hot Summer and pop right back over the side of the boat getting out of the water. I'm older now, weigh more and not as agile as I used to be

Thankfully my Bass Cat has a full size ladder on the back.

My father has actually had several ppl fall out of his ranger while guiding. Main thing is to get a life jacket or throw cushion to them and talk to them. He then helps walk them to the back and they use the laser on the back of his z520c.

Remember to talk and help calm someone down.

This past year day 1 of Berkley on Fork, me and my two 17yo sons were fishing point by Alligator, we were catching good fish, both my boys had a $ fish in livewell, I tell them "im gonna turn spotlock off and let us drift back to a little deeper water" while this is happening im putting on a new bottom hopper on my dropshot, then bam!! we dead center a now barely exposed stump dead center with the engine, I kind of lose balance fall back hit the leaning post on the side, it pivots, SPLASH!!!! Im a lot heavier now then when I was back in the day, it was pretty dang chilly that morn, I got 100mph bibs and jacket on, I come to surface and the boat was steadily getting away from me due to wind that morning. I would have NEVER caught that dam thing, if id have been by myself.... My boys troll to me and luckily I have a ladder on my power pole like the new skeeters have and it was pretty easy getting back in even for a fatboy, but it definitely was a eye opener.... I fish alone a lot, but I will dang sure keep my PFD on now for sure... Be safe guys,,, things happen FAST....

whiz first. then get back in the boat like a fat walrus rolling over a big cliff....one leg up, one arm over.... pull myself in the boat the seat and passenger console handles.

Thanks for bringing this up Tom.

I've taken the plunge three times at Fork. It is never summer time with 80 degree water when it happens either. I have ridden the outboard up and flopped over onto the back deck. It was pretty easy.... back when I was 35!! I'm not 35 anymore and I can't just pull myself up over the gunnel by myself anymore either especially wearing cold-weather gear!

I like the idea of keeping a loop of 1/2" rope tied to a back deck cleat to put my foot in better. If you cut it the right length, it should make boarding much easier by yourself.

Be aware of the dangers of falling into the lake and how to get back in the boat. Could save your life if you are prepared.

Did one time and my partner had a boat that had a manual ladder like device that came out of the back of the boat. Pulled myself right in and commenced to fishing. This was 2 years ago on Alan Henry in late Sept. or early Oct. Wasn't too bad, but wasn't too fun. I was having an insulin reaction when it happened and I tried to fall down in the back of the boat, but missed, as I was stumbling around the sceg. Tight lines, keep safe and good luck.

Thad Rains

only boat I have fallen out of SO FAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Probably just waiting until I go again and fall in again. Been fishing regularly since 1993.

tr

I had sholder surgery last March and fell off my boat in July. Water felt great but if I had not had a friend with me I would have not been able to climb up the motor.

This very scenario is why I installed an E-Ladder on my Skeeter several years ago.....also carry a change of clothes, a few beach towels, and a few fleece blankets.

My wife fell in the water once in early March at Ray Roberts on an extremely windy day when we bounced hard off a stump with the wind at our back while trolling at max thrust. Water temp was 56. According to hypothermia survival tables, at that temp range hypothermia symptoms start in about 10 minutes. It took way longer to get her back in the boat than I ever thought. I don't care how strong you are, it is hard to dead lift a human back into a drifting boat. "Riding the outboard" didn't work. In the time it took me to pull here back into the boat (which felt like eternity), she was already shivering and had muscle fatigue.

With the e-ladder, I also have a thick dock line that I have tied in a few staggered knots and a small loop on one end. The loop goes around the based of the rear pedestal seat. The rope is long enough to just lay over the back of the boat and easy to grab from the water. Lower the e-ladder, grab the rope at one of the knots, step on the e-ladder step, stand up leaning forward while pulling on the rope, and lift yourself up laying over onto the back deck.

I have practiced this a few time during the summer. It is fairly easy to do, and I think will work in cold water while wearing bulky clothes. I deploy this every time I fish alone during the colder water months, and have it at the ready when someone is with me. I have considered getting an inflatable PFD as well based on how fast my wife lost dexterity.

Luckily, I've only fallen out once in an old boat. I always said that I'd use the loop on the end of a rope as a step to get back in. I didn't realize how hard it was to control that loop, 1 just to get your foot in it and 2 when you try to lift yourself up, it doesn't stay straight down but you end up pushing it under the boat when you try to stand. my new boat is fine solo but I really feel it when the person on the back moves quickly to the side. I've come close a few times to falling out in Fork at night where I'm more concerned about what I might fall and impel myself on than getting back in. I need to find a ladder that I can mount but haven't found anything good yet because I don't have a jackplate to mount it to.

swim

I've got a ladder, but not practiced . I imagine anything you think of doing may not as easy as it seems. I also have a 3/4 inch rope with several knots tied in it fastened to the base of my rear pedestal so I can grab it and work my way up onto the back deck. Most of the stuff you can grab on these boats is on the edges or in the middle. This won't give you much of any leverage to pull yourself in.

Sink like a rock.

I didnt read all the posts, but recent events have reminded me how important this is.

As a ex USAF survival instructor I have been in a lake, river, pool and ocean while clothed the idea you will swim is out of touch. We would let ourselfs go under immediately, remove our boots and pants. We used our pants to fashion a flotation device a few times.

If you go over in a wind suit rain coat boots etc with a inflatable pfd even that is going to be tough.. I am going to jump in this summer with my inflatable pfd and winter gear on and see what I can do....