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Seven Tips for Swimming Boaters

I have been many tragic drownings last summer, and the BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety has these seven DO NOT tips for boaters who want to swim:

DO NOT . . .

. . . permit anyone in the water until the engine is turned off and the key is out of the ignition.

. . . permit swimming until there is at least one life jacket or throwable flotation aid (tied to the boat) in the water, and every child is wearing a life jacket.

. . . swim at marinas. Electric current leaking from poorly maintained boat electrical and shore power systems can stun you and cause you to drown.

. . . dive in water headfirst unless you know exactly how deep the water is. Ease yourself down a boarding ladder to confirm the water depth.

. . . swim alone.

. . . swim under a boat's swim platform or near any boat with the engine running. You could die from a propeller strike or from carbon monoxide poisoning.

. . . swim in a navigation channel where you could be struck by a vessel or in an area with strong river or tidal currents, which can swiftly carry you away from the boat.

For more information on boating safety programs from the BoatU.S. Foundation, such as the free Kid's Life Jacket Loaner Program, go to their web site.

Source: BoatU.S. Foundation for Safety and Clean Water

 

DCAPT David G. Porter, Sector NY/S
1st Southern Region
646-523-1213

Avoiding Collisions with Kayaks

by Bruce White DVC-BL

In the past few years, there have been several tragic examples of small boats, notably kayaks, which were run down by larger, fast-moving boats. A group of prominent engineers recently presented the paper, "Visibility Factors in Small Boat Collisions," at the 2012 International Marine Forensics Symposium sponsored by the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. This paper offers some good suggestions on how to avoid being run over in smaller boats–kayaks–and, conversely, how to avoid running over small boats.

The suggestions on how to avoid being run over were based on a series of tests on the water using volunteers in kayaks and powerboats. Researchers found that kayaks aren't likely to be spotted by a powerboat until they're a quarter-mile away, which can quickly lead to an "extremis condition." The sooner a small boat is spotted, the better.

Seventy-five percent of the powerboat operators first reported seeing "paddle flash" when they saw the boat. A white or light colored paddle blade was much easier to see than a dark blade. The remaining 25 percent saw the luminous jersey that was being worn by the volunteers.

Among the recommendations to kayakers–
1) Carry an audible signaling device.
2) Wear fluorescent life vests or shirts.
3) Use paddles with white or light colored blades.
4) Avoid kayaking in areas with high boat traffic.
5) Use flags that can be mounted on kayaks.

Conversely, for owners of larger boats: wear sunglasses; keep a proper lookout; and, be especially alert in areas where you are likely to encounter smaller craft.

Source: "Seaworthy, the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance and Damage Avoidance Report," July 2012, p. 4.

 

DCAPT David G. Porter, Sector NY/S
1st Southern Region
646-523-1213