Special to The Island News
Thousands of people take to the water on boats during the summer. And while many locals are longtime, experienced boaters, it’s never a bad time to brush up on boating and water safety.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, in 2023 there were 3,844 recreational boating accidents in the U.S, resulting in 564 deaths. Of those accidents, 156 of them occurred in South Carolina, resulting in 24 deaths.
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents.
“No matter how much boating experience you have or how much you think you know, it’s always a good idea for everyone to review and follow boating safety rules before departure,” advised Dr. Saeed Rehman, medical director at the Beaufort Memorial Hospital Pratt Emergency Center.
Here are 10 basic boating tips from the National Marine Manufacturers Association to help you stay safe on the water this summer:
1. Be weather wise: Always check local weather conditions before departure. If you notice darkening clouds, volatile winds, rough water or a sudden drop in temperature, play it safe by getting off the water.
2. Follow a predeparture checklist: Proper boating safety includes being prepared for any possibility on the water. Following a predeparture checklist is the best way to make sure no boating safety rules or precautions have been overlooked or forgotten.
3. Use common sense: Always operate at a safe speed (especially in crowded areas), stay alert at all times and steer clear of large vessels and watercraft that can be restricted in their ability to stop or turn. Also, be respectful of buoys and other navigational aids, all of which have been placed there to ensure your own safety.
4. Designate an assistant skipper: Make sure more than one person on board is familiar with general boating safety and all aspects of your boat’s handling and operations. If the primary navigator is injured or incapacitated in any way, it’s important that someone else can follow the proper boating safety rules to get everyone back to shore.
5. Develop a float plan: Whether you choose to inform a family member or staff at your local marina, always be sure to let someone else know your float plan. This should include where you’re going and how long you’re going to be gone.
A float plan can include the following information:
- Name, address and phone number of trip leader and all passengers;
- Boat type and registration information;
- Your trip itinerary; and/or
- Types of communication and signal equipment on board, such as an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or personal locator beacon (PLB).
6. Use life jackets: According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, 83% of people who drowned due to boating accidents were reported to have not been wearing life jackets. Make sure that your family and friends aren’t part of this statistic by assigning and fitting each member of your on-board team with a life jacket prior to departure.
7. Avoid alcohol: Just as you wouldn’t drink and drive, never drink and boat.
“The probability of being involved in a boating accident doubles when alcohol is involved,” Dr. Rehman said, “and studies have shown that the effects of alcohol are exacerbated by sun and wind.”
8. Learn to swim: If you’re going to be in and around the water, proper boating safety includes knowing how to swim.
9. Take a boating safety course: Classes are offered locally through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
10. Consider a free vessel safety check: Take advantage of a free vessel safety check from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or the U.S. Power Squadron. Both offer complimentary boat examinations to verify the presence and condition of certain safety equipment required by state and federal regulations. They’ll provide a specialist to check out your boat and make helpful boating safety tips and recommendations.
