Articles and Press Releases

With the boating season upon us, there are a few significant safety issues that you might want to consider.  These issues relate to all sizes of powerboats from serious cruisers to small fishing boats powered by a little “kicker”. 

Of course, if you’re not yet into power boating, this might be a good time to consider getting involved, especially price wise.  The powerboat industry is currently experiencing one of its slowest times regarding sales in recent history.  Dealers should be very interested in making good deals on new or used boats.

 Important safety issues.   

(1)           Wisconsin has finally joined other states by passing a law requiring certain young people to have a boating safety education certificate.  This Mandatory Boating Education law requires anyone born after January 1^st of 1989 and at least 16 years of age to have a boating safety education certificate in order to legally operate a powerboat on Wisconsin waterways.  You can check with the local DNR office for upcoming (approved) boating safety classes.  Recreational boating accident statistics show a direct correlation with boating education classes, demonstrating, as you would expect, that better trained and educated boat operators are involved in fewer injury producing accidents 

(2)           Life Jackets.  Although Federal law requires your boat to be equipped with a properly sized, serviceable (decent conditioned), accessible, US Coast Guard approved life jacket for every person on board including anyone being towed, plus a USCG approved “throw cushion” for boats 16 feet and longer (except canoes and kayaks), the law does not require the wearing of a life jacket (yet).  Most states now have a law requiring the wearing of a life jacket for young people 12 years of age and younger or anyone riding a personal watercraft.  A few states use a younger age.  There is a new federal law consistent with the 12 and under rule, which will apply to any states with no age law such as Wisconsin, but it only applies to federal waters (which includes Lake Winnebago) and can only be enforced by a USCG official.  Although the Wisconsin legislature has been considering a 12 and under law, it has not yet passed it, leaving Wisconsin as one of only two or three states with no such law, much to the frustration of the Wisconsin DNR and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).  Regardless, safety conscious boaters of any age should find a comfortable life jacket and wear it as soon as they enter a boat.  Think of it like seat belts in your car.  It’s silly to think you can suddenly fasten your seat belt only when you are about to experience a crash. 

Recreational boating safety statistics are very telling with this issue.  Of the approximately 700 recreational boating fatalities occurring in the U.S. each year, between 70% and 80% are drownings.  Of those drownings approximately 90% of the victims were not wearing a life jacket.  Have you checked out the newer, very comfortable inflatable life jackets?  Or have you checked out inflatable “belt packs” for the ultimate in comfort?  Think of a little lump around your waist which, when submerged for five seconds, inflates into a full sized horseshoe collar requiring you to only pull it over your head.  Of course, one must keep tabs on the inflating cartridge, but the users that I know, including myself, are very happy with them. 

(3)           Finally, are you aware of your boat being equipped with an emergency engine shut off switch generally activated by a lanyard, when connected between the switch and the boat driver?  Presently no states have passed a law requiring the use of the switch/lanyard when the boat is so equipped, except for personal watercraft operators where the requirement exists.  However, a number of states are now considering such a law, which has been proposed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA).  Your boat or your hand tilled outboard probably came with such a switch and lanyard.  Activation of the switch when the operator is either thrown overboard or thrown sufficiently away from his operator’s position will prevent the boat from circling back over the operator or running off to crash into something or someone leaving the operator alone in the water (maybe with no life jacket on).  Getting used to hooking up the lanyard is again, akin to fastening your seat belt in your car.  It is a very good habit to develop.