July 4th Boating Safety

With another Fourth of July weekend coming up, I wanted to give a quick reminder about boating safety. Being a boat operator myself, I want the people around me to be just as cautious as I am. Every year I see on the news and read about all the fatalities that occur because of ignorance, clumsiness, tempers/egos and of course alcohol.

In 1996, Florida established a Boating Safety Course for individuals under the age of 22 who operate a motorboat with 10 horsepower or more. Since the law came into effect, the number of boating accidents has been on a steady decline.

In 2006, there was over 1 million boat registrations. In 1996, there was just over 700,000 registrations. One might think that with the increse in registrations, there would be more accidents. The statistics show otherwise.

That being said, boating fatalities in Florida have risen at a rate much greater than the rate of growth in registered boats. Between 2000 and 2005, fatalities rose 76.1% while the boat registration increase during this time period was 14.8%. Contrary to popular belief, the people involved in boating accidents and fatalities are not primarily young, inexperienced boat operators. Boating accidents usually involve operators who are older adults (males 36 years of age and older), have more than 100 hours of boat operation experience, and have no formal boating safety education.

Boating Safety Tips:

BOATING SAFETY COURSE – In Florida, you can take an online course or go to a Coast Guart Auxiliary site and sit through an 8 hour class. Either way there is a written/computerized test at the end of the session to be taken. Even if you have been boating for years and years and years and “know everything about boating”, it is truely a worthwhile class to take.

VOLUNTARILY WEAR A LIFE JACKET WHEN NOT REQUIRED – It is obvious that a large number of the annual boating-related deaths could have easily been prevented if the victims had been wearing a life jacket at the time of the accident. Expecting to be able to find and put on a life jacket when the need arises has been compared to the thought that it might be reasonable to wait until just before an automobile accident to wear a seat belt. Yea, it’s uncomfortable but there are crutial times when I believe it’s quite necessary. For example: anytime you are going faster than idle especially navigating in and out of an inlet, when you’re the only person on the boat and throwing a cast net. Please insure they are coast guard approved life jackets as well.

HAVE YOUR BOAT SAFETY INSPECTED – The Vessel Safety Check is a free public service offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron volunteer organizations. Believe me, you’d rather them tell you on a volunteer inspection that you’re fire extinguisher is out of date, or the fact that you don’t have a “throwable” life jacket then find out Saturday afternoon involuntary along with a hefty fine!

TRIP INFORMATION – Tell someone where you are going, who is with you, and how long you plan to be out. Then stick to your travel plans.

MAX CAPACITY – Know your boat’s capacity and how to properly load it. An overloaded or improperly loaded boat can cause safety problems.

ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION – Avoid alcoholic beverages while boating. More than one-third of all boating deaths resulting from collisions involved alcohol use. I have seen so many times where people think they can “outsmart” the cops. Some friends were on the boat 3 Memorial Day weekends ago and of course with them was a full cooler of beer. The boat owner/operator had been drinking all day along with all of the other passengers. One passenger had 2 beers within the past 2 hours and decided he would drive the boat home since he was the most “sober.” There were 15 people with a max capacity of 12. Less than 100 yards from the dock, Sheriff tied up to him, gave him a breathalizer test – BUI (boating under the incluence) and a fine for too many people. One is enough to ruin your day!

I hope this sinks in to every boater, for not only this weekend, but for everytime you decide to get back on a boat in the future! Safety first, then fun! Enjoy the Fourth of July weekend y’all!