Labor Day Weekend Boating - Will You Join the Fray?

Labor Day Weekend – Will You join the Thundering Herd of Labor Day Boaters this year?

Boaters are sure to flood Florida's waterways this Labor Day Holiday weekend, bringing the summer boating season to an unofficial end. Given the expected level of holiday boating activity, the Florida Marine Patrol “FWC” in conjunction with your local Sheriffs Office and the U.S. Coast Guard will stress the importance of boating safety this holiday weekend.

In 2006, only California (with 757) outpaced Florida (671) in the number of boating accidents. Yet Florida led the nation in fatalities with 69 -- as compared to only 47 in Texas and 44 in California. That's according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation's 2006 Boating Accident Statistical Report, released last month by the agency's Division of Law Enforcement, Boating and Waterways Section.

Holiday weekends often mean increased use of public waterways - and this invariably means an increased need for safety awareness from all boaters. As always, holiday weekends are when the less experienced boaters find their way out into our waterways.

With the crowded nature of the Labor Weekend on our local Florida waterways, will you be entering the fray with your boat? Leave your comment(s) below with your holiday weekend boating plans or stories from Labor Days gone by. We all can use a reminder from time to time of what not to do, both on and off the water.

As for this old boat captain, I will be spending the weekend at the beach!

Many accidents and fatalities can be avoided by reviewing and following safety tips over the course of the holiday weekend's festivities.

• There are no "driving lanes" on the water, so boat operators need to be educated on the "Rules of the Road" and be aware of all other boat traffic in the area.
• Wear your life jacket. Nine out of ten drowning victims did not.
• Don't drink and operate a boat. Half of all boating fatalities involve alcohol. The boat's movement, vibration, noise, sun, glare and wind often produce "boater's hypnosis," so alcohol can affect people much more rapidly on the water.
• Use navigation lights at ALL times on the water at night, whether the boat is moving or anchored. Do not wait until dark to turn your lights on to see if they are functioning properly.
• Don't overload your boat with people or equipment. Check the capacity plate on the boat that indicates the maximum weight capacity or the maximum number of people that the boat can safely carry.
• Minimum Age Requirements. Know Florida's age requirements for boat and PWC operation, and don't lend your PWC to anyone underage.
• Brush up on your boating safety knowledge. Take a boating safety course.
• Be aware of other boaters around you and be courteous.
• Follow the No-Wake Zone markers. Consider why they are posted and even if you are not in a no wake zone you are responsible for your wake. Slow down if you see a situation which will become dangerous if your wake is added to the mix. Look ahead to see if a group of people are boarding a boat at a dock alongside the waterway. Look for small fishing boats which could be capsized by a fast moving boat wake. Be aware!
• Most of all, know your limitations. Please do not operate any boat beyond your own personal capabilities. If you have never taken your boat 25 - 50 miles offshore, or if you have never run your boat in the intercoastal waterway on your own before... please do not choose Labor Day weekend, with your entire family aboard, to take that next step in your experience level.

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