I have had a hard time understanding why I need to carry a throwable. PFDs are worn all the time, no exceptions.

Here is why I ask:

Boy (7yrs old) has been sitting up on the bow for about 2 hours. Generally smooth water, wind in the 5-7 range boat traffic considerable less than usually for a summer Sunday afternoon in the high 70s the low 80's. He is having a blast as we punch thru small to medium power boat wakes and occasionally fly the hull a little. Then, along comes a biiiiiig power dude doing all he can do to do 20 knots or so. We have the spin up and going good for the wind. I'm trimming the spin and driving the boat, crew not interested in the effort required to fly the spin. He is giving us room but not by much. Conflict with him is not the problem; it is the 4- 5 foot wake he just sent towards us. Boy does his best to hang on, but gets washed off and shot right out under the back beam. At this point it would have been handy to be able to throw the throwable to him since its bright red. Unfortunately, I didn’t even remember it was there. It gets tied on at the beginning of the season and taken off when the tramp comes off for winter. After about 200 yard or so the spin is finally put away and we are headed back to him. Pluck him out, hug him kiss him, laugh abut the experience - save the crying for later, we are guys after all – we all settle down. Give him 10 minutes and then sent him back out on the bow - must get back on the horse - with a watchful eye towards big boats.

This could have turned out really bad, thankfully it didn’t. It would have been helpful to be able to throw the thowable.

On one of my past tramps I had a pocket for it. Other ideas?