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Boaters Need To Keep Safe

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By FRANK SARGEANT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

This is National Safe Boating Week, another of those nationally designated weeks that virtually no one pays attention to. Safety in general is a topic we'd all rather forget about, but the elements that cause a disaster are always just over the horizon when it comes to boating.

It is true, though, that Florida always gets a bum rap as being a dangerous state in which to boat, because we are always at or near the top of the national list of boating deaths; we had 77 last year. But in fact, it's only because we have so many boats here (about 1.3 million registered) and because those boats are used year-round that we frequently lead this sad statistic. Some other states that consistently rank very high - such as Michigan - have boating seasons that extend only six months; half the exposure, but similar accident levels.

Bottom line, Florida is not a particularly dangerous place to boat. In fact, it's probably far safer than the cold-water states where hypothermia is a likely killer, even in mid-summer.

That said, with the intense boating activity from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it's a good time to review what causes accidents afloat, and how to avoid them.

A PFD Can Save Your Life

It's not usually a big boat far from shore where deaths occur. Nationwide, according to the National Safe Boating Council, most boating deaths occur among people in boats 16 feet or smaller. And high-speed collisions, though spectacular, are a small part of the accident picture.

Most deaths are the result of simply falling overboard.

There has been one central issue regarding drowning deaths among Florida boaters: Most of us do not wear traditional life jackets - ever - when we are in a boat. In our usually muggy climate, a thick vest or horse collar is simply too hot and restrictive.

There's now a better solution. Inflatable personal flotation devices (PFDs) were approved by the Coast Guard a few years ago, and many of these are so small and unobtrusive there's no reason not to wear one anytime you step into a boat.

They're available as suspenders or belt packs. You simply forget you have them once you snap them into place. But should you fall overboard, contact with the water activates a CO-2 cartridge, which blows up the PFD.

There are a few drawbacks, to be sure. The inflatables are expensive, $80 or more, compared to as little as $8 for a standard yoke-type life preserver, and $30 or so for the typical foam vest. And, the inflatables have to be serviced annually; you need to replace the activator and the CO-2 cartridge regularly.

Also, if you operate far offshore, you probably don't want to depend on an inflatable continuing to hold its charge for hours or days until you are rescued. A high-quality offshore-rated foam vest is the solution for this type of boating.

Of course, you want the rest of your boat to comply with all state and federal regulations for safety equipment, too. Many area boating clubs offer free inspections this weekend at local boat ramps. Or, you can visit www.myfwc.com to see what the requirements for your boat will be.

Use A Nautical Chart Or GPS

One of the most useful pieces of gear any coastal boater needs is a nautical chart. These are the road maps that show where the channels are located and, more importantly, where they are not. There are endless miles of shallows along much of the west coast where most boats will run aground, and some of these locations are miles from the nearest shoreline. The chart shows you the areas to avoid.

If you can make the investment, get a charting global positioning system for your boat. It shows where you are and shows the surrounding marine terrain, bars, channel markers, danger areas, grass flats and much more.

One of the best investments for boating safety is to take a course provided by local Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary clubs. These cover safety and operational details that will make you a more confident skipper. And, with many companies, they save considerably on the cost of boat insurance.

Tampa Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a rotating Boating Skills and Seamanship class Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The fee is $40, and boaters can start on any Wednesday. Call (813) 835-4118 or visit cgwebs.net/flotilla79. The Brandon Coast Guard Auxiliary meets the second Tuesday monthly at Brandon Rec Center, 402 E. Sadie Drive in Brandon, at 7:30 p.m.; cgaux74.org. There's a very active Power Squadron in Apollo Beach; contact Charles Feldschau at CFeldschau@

aol.com for meeting information. Also, check out the National Safe Boating Week site at www.safeboating

campaign.net.

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