Helpful advice for boating fun

Thousands of people hit the lakes and rivers this weekend, as Memorial Day kicked off the summer boating season. Recreational boaters will be hitting the water this summer making for some crowded lakes, despite the high cost of gas. Granted some may take a few less trips to the lake this summer because of gas prices, but for most of us getting away at the lake is a necessity no matter what the cost. Well before the summer boating season, boaters should consider taking a boater safety education class. Approximately 70 million Americans will hit the water this year in their boats, and yet the likelihood of being in a serious boating accident remains low. But still approximately 700 people die in boating-related accidents on our nation’s waterways each year and more are seriously injured. Statistics from the U.S. Cost Guard show that 70 percent of those injured or killed had not completed a boater safety course. Here in Tennessee the law says any resident born after January 1, 1989, must have completed a Boating Safety Education exam. To take the exam you must be at least 11 years old. You then must buy a copy of boating safety from any license agent or business that sells hunting and fishing licenses and make sure you keep your receipt. The receipt is your ticket to take the exam. For exam dates and locations you can go to the TWRA Web site. You can also log onto www.boat-ed.com/tn to take practice exams. For those who aren’t required to take the exam it’s still not a bad idea to take a boating safety course at least every couple of years. If you don’t have the time, following the basic boating safety rules can make your time spent on the water much safer and enjoyable. First, always operate your boat at a safe speed and make sure everyone on board is wearing a Coast Guard-approved life vest. Always have a designated lookout to keep an eye out for other boaters, objects in the water, swimmers and water skiers. It’s never a good idea to go fishing or boating alone. But if you do, make sure you tell someone where you are going and what time they should expect you back. Just as in driving a car, you should never operate your boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. State law requires that a blood-alcohol test be performed on all boat operators involved in an accident. Make sure you have everything you need is case of an emergency. Have an emergency kit on board, with things such as a first aid kit, a fire extinguisher, flashlights, flares, and even some canned food and a pack of crackers just it case you get stranded. And with today’s technology make sure your cell phone is fully charged. It’s a good idea to store the phone number of the marina you launched your boat out of in your phone. You should always respect the rights of others, including anglers, swimmers and skiers. My biggest complaint is when I’m fishing, and skiers come a little too close. It scares off the fish and makes anglers very angry as the wake rocks the boat back and forth. Another is at the boat ramp. Be courteous to other boaters by launching and retrieving your boat in a timely manner. Some boaters think they should load everything out of their boat right at the ramp. If someone else is waiting to load or unload, move your boat up the ramp before you start loading up. Just use some basic common sense and be respectful to others and your day on the water will be a pleasant one.