Boating Safety for Labor Day

As an avid boater, my dad taught us the thrill of boating but he also taught us that playing it safe is cool when it comes to boating. He always stressed boating safety for Labor Day weekend and other popular summer long weekends such as Memorial Day and Independence Day. Some boaters will be inexperienced, intoxicated or just plain careless he would tell us. So it's up to us to play it extra safe. Playing it safe includes being prepared:

Do you know where you are going?

Different waterways have different risks. Completely different risks will present themselves during a trip down the Sacramento River compared to a trip out to the Channel Islands.

How's the Weather?

Know the weather before you launch. If it's stormy, delay your trip. Pay attention for quick changes in the weather if you are out at sea or out on a mountain lake.

Is your boat properly equipped and in working order?

Test your battery. It should be well charged. Check your engine. Have enough fuel for your trip plus a spare gallon or two in case you need to assist another boater. Have enough life jackets. In California, the law requires a life jacket of the appropriate size for each passenger. If your boat is over 16 feet, you are further required to carry throwable floatation device. (California Department of Boating and Waterways: Safety Boating Hints on Personal Flotation Devices, p. 3). Have a drain plug onboard (consider carrying a spare). Other things to bring along: a First Aid kit, an anchor with plenty of rope, a tow rope, safety flares, a fog horn, jumper cables and a safety flag (to alert other boaters that swimmers or water skiers are in the water).

Do Your Passengers Know What to Do?

Control the number of passengers and where they sit. Passengers should not sit on the ledges of the boat. Ask passengers to sit down while the boat is in motion. Ask them to hold on when going at a fast speed. Put children up front where you can see them, preferably with an adult. Children under the age of 11 must wear a life jacket according to California State law ((California Department of Boating and Waterways: Safety Boating Hints on Personal Flotation Devices, p. 2). Adults or children who can't swim definitely should wear a life jacket. Sadly, of the people who die from drowning during a boating accident, 85% could have lived if they had been wearing a life jacket. (California Department of Boating and Waterways: Safety Boating Hints on Personal Flotation Devices, p. 2).

For my article on Water Skiing Safety Tips, click here.

Is the Driver Alert and Knowledgeable?

Keep alcohol away from the driver; limit alcohol available to passengers. Have more than one person available to drive the boat in case of emergency or if driver can't continue to drive for any reason (tired, intoxicated, etc). Drive slowly near the shore or docks. Powerboats can cause small boats to overturn with their wake. Keep an eye out for floating debris. Keep your distance from swimmers, water skiers, fishing boats and small boats such as canoes or kayaks. Keep in mind that like semi-trucks, large ships can't turn or stop suddenly. Look out for careless or intoxicated boaters. In short, be on the alert every second.

For water skiing tips for boat drivers, see my article Water Skiing Safety Tips by clicking here.

I hope you will keep these tips for Labor Day boating safety in mind as you prepare for your trip out on the water on the last long weekend of summer. Be extra safe and have extra fun.

You can find a highly detailed and in depth guide to boating safety from the California Department of Boating and Waterways at http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Boatsmarter/index_open.html. This is a must-read for California boaters because in addition to safety guidelines for any kind of watercrafts, there are guides to California waterways detailing the specific risks for each.

Sources:

Safe Boating Hints on Personal Flotation Devices. Accessed August 6, 2009.

How to Boat Responsibly. http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Boatsmarter/index_open.html> Accessed August 6, 2009

2007 California Boating Safety Report. < http://www.dbw.ca.gov/Reports/BSRs/2007/PDF/Sec2.pdf#nameddest=G> Accessed August 6, 2009

A special thank you to my Dad who has over 50 years of boating experience at sea and in lakes and rivers throughout the Western United States.