Spending Memorial Day Weekend Boating? Put Down The Cap'n, Captain

With fuel prices lower than they have been in months, there’s a good possibility Barnegat Bay and other waterways will see more boaters than they have in the months since Hurricane Sandy hit our coast.

This week was National Safe Boating Week, where boaters are reminded about the dangers they can face on the water if they aren’t exercising caution and are doing things such as boating under the influence.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, of the 610 people who died in boating accidents in 2014, alcohol use was the leading factor in 21 percent of the deaths. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed and alcohol use ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

Where the cause of death was known, 78 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned; of those drowning victims, 84 percent were not wearing a life jacket.

Boaters who are convicted of operating a vessel under the influence also can lose their driver’s license to operate motor vehicles and face fines.

With traffic on the water likely to be almost as high as it is on land, take precautions and follow the navigational rules.

• Don’t operate a boat if you have been drinking. Your reaction time and balance are affected by alcohol, which could lead to disaster.
• Watch your speed in areas where there is a lot of boat traffic.
• Wear your life jacket. That can be as crucial to saving your life as wearing a seat belt in a car.

(If you’re going to hang out and relax on your boat, and want to drink, keep the boat at the dock to minimize the risks to you and others. Credit: Karen Wall)