Boating Safety

As the summer is quickly changing to fall, many boaters are trying to enjoy the last days on the water. By understanding the laws and dangers on the water, you can decrease your risk of a possible accident and still enjoy your day .

The Right-of-Way in Boating
On a crowded, busy lake, it can sometimes be difficult to tell who has the right-of-way. Unfortunately, many boating accidents result when drivers do not understand the ways in which boats are supposed to interact. Operating a boat is just like driving a car: if you do not understand the rules governing right of way, you are putting everyone around you in danger.

The most basic rule governing right of way on the water is that a boat must yield to any boat that is in the angle extending from the front of the boat forward and from the rear starboard (right) corner of the boat perpendicular to the boat. This area is known as the “danger zone,” and boats are obliged to yield to any other vessels in their danger zone. Conversely, if you are in another boat’s danger zone, that boat is required to yield to you.

The right of way on the water may also be determined by the types of boats involved. For instance personal watercraft (PWC), also know as jet ski's, should always yield to all other types of boats, as it is the smallest on the water.


Pleasure Boat Accidents
Many people find recreation and relaxation in boating, but this pastime can be dangerous if it is not pursued in a conscientious and informed manner. Unfortunately, there are hundreds of severe and fatal injuries involving pleasure boats every year. For instance, in 2005 in the United States there were 697 fatal boating injuries, or 5.4 injuries for every 100,000 registered boats. Most of those who died in boating accidents drowned, and authorities believe that over 400 of these lives could have been saved if the individuals had been wearing life-jackets. In general, most boating accidents involve collisions with other vessels, although falling overboard is also a common mishap while on the water.

About half of the injuries in 2005 were aboard open motorboats, although there was a significant increase in the proportion of injuries sustained on personal watercraft. In about a quarter of the fatal boating accidents, alcohol was determined to have played a significant role, and in the majority of these accidents the boat operator had not received any training in boat safety.

The most commonly cited cause of boating accidents was reckless operation, followed by operator inattention, excessive speed, and operator inexperience.


PWC Safety
Riding a PWC is arguably one of the most exciting things you can do on the water, but it can also be one of the most dangerous. Although statistics indicate that jet skis are not involved in a significantly greater percentage of accidents than other watercraft, the accidents involving jet skis are more likely to be serious or fatal. In order to ensure your own safety and the safety of others, there are a few basic guidelines you should remember every time you ride:

• Always wear a fitted, Coast Guard-approved life-jacket.
• Always use the safety lanyard that would stop the engine should you fall off.
• Once you are out on the water, constantly be on the lookout for other boats, skiers, divers, and swimmers. It can be difficult, especially in choppy water, to see swimmers and fallen skiers, so you must be constantly vigilant and keep a wide distance from boats and the shoreline.
• Do not use waves and the wakes made by boats as ramps.
  

PWC Accidents
The best weapon against jet ski accidents and other personal watercraft accidents is knowledge. Indeed, most serious jet ski accidents occur when the rider is someone who has either borrowed or rented the jet ski. In other words, unfamiliarity with the technique and etiquette of riding a jet ski can endanger your health! By staying informed about the risks associated with jet skis you can minimize your chances of being involved in an accident.

Too few jet ski operators know the limitations of their craft in terms of speed and stopping distance. Many riders assume that a jet ski can stop abruptly, when in fact it takes considerable time and distance to bring a PWC to a complete halt. Another common cause of jet ski accidents is ignorance of the relation between power and steering in a jet ski. This means that you can not control how fast you can stop or slow down.
When the engine of a jet ski is off, the vessel will continue to travel in the same direction regardless of which way the handlebars are turned.

It is important to know that it is illegal (in most states) to do any of the following:

• Make sharp turns near another vessel
• Jump another vessel’s wake within 100 feet of that or any other vessel
• Follow a boat too closely
• Chase another jet ski in small circles

Do any of the above could result in a serious or fatal accident.



Water Skiing Safety
In order to ensure that your water-skiing is as safe as possible, there are a few basic guidelines you should follow:

• Always make sure that the body of water is large enough to accommodate skiing. The water should be tleast five feet deep and 2000-3000 feet long.
• There must be enough room for all of the vessels on the water to have at least 100 feet of open space in all directions.
  
• Be familiar with the body of water. Some will contain buoys, stumps, or pilings: be sure you know the locations of all these obstacles before you begin skiing. If you are not familiar with the location, ask someone who is.
  
• You should generally avoid water-skiing either when wind is making the water choppy, or when rain is significantly decreasing visibility.
  
• There should always be at least one person in the boat besides the driver; this person should keep an eye on the skier and alert the driver to any problems.
  
• The skier should always be equipped with a well-fitted life-jacket, as should all the individuals on the boat.
  
• If you are towing skiers, try to avoid crowded areas and other vessels. Be aware of how the wake generated by other boats might affect your skier.
• Never ski or tow skiers at night or in conditions of poor visibility.
  
• Know the basic set of hand gestures that have become conventional in skiing and are essential to maintaining good communication between the skier and the driver of the boat. Some of the basic hand gestures are as follows: an extended left hand is a request for a left turn; an extended right hand is a request for a right turn; a thumb pointed down is a request for a slower speed; a thumb pointed up is a request for a higher speed; a hand raised with the palm out is a request for the boat to stop; and a circle made with the index finger and thumb indicates that the skier is doing well.

For More Information on Water Safety visit: Safety Resource or the United States Power Squardruns