Kentucky Afield Outdoors: Boat Safely This July 4th Weekend
July 1, 2008
Frankfort, Ky. – July 4th is the busiest boating weekend of the year in Kentucky. Congested waters make for dangerous conditions, so boaters should be extra careful as they enjoy the holiday.
Be aware of all other boaters nearby, especially personal watercraft (manufactured under the trade names Jet Ski, Sea-Doo, WaveRunner and AquaTrax). The low profile of these small, fast boats makes them easily missed while operating a larger boat. Also keep a lookout for swimmers, inner tubers and skiers. Scan the water around you before turning on your engine and continue to scan while under power.
If you are a personal watercraft operator yourself, drive defensively. Never cut too close to other boats or jump another boat’s wake. Remember that boat navigation laws require personal watercraft operators to give way to larger boats, and personal watercraft operators are required to follow all of the same rules as larger boats. All personal watercraft operators must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
No matter what type of boat you operate, a day on the water can cause a condition known as boater’s fatigue. A combination of sun, wind, noise, vibration and the movement of the boat can make operators and passengers feel sleepy or groggy. Boater’s fatigue can cause bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and slower reaction time. If you begin to feel fatigued, allow more distance between your boat and other boats and make slower turns. Take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water to help minimize dehydration and fatigue, and let someone else operate the boat if you are too tired to do so safely. Boater’s fatigue combined with alcohol can be a deadly mix, so please leave the alcohol ashore.
Many boaters operate their boats after dark during July 4th weekend. If you venture out after daylight hours, be extra cautious to avoid a collision with another boat. Make sure all navigation lights on your boat work. Kentucky law requires that all boats operating from sunset to sunrise display a steady white light visible 360 degrees at all times. Drive slowly and use extreme caution when navigating around other boats in fireworks viewing areas.
Be sure not to overload your boat with passengers this holiday weekend. Your boat was designed to carry a certain amount of weight, including equipment and passengers. Exceeding this limit can make your boat susceptible to being swamped with water in heavy July 4th boating traffic. You and your passengers should also know how to get back in the boat should someone fall overboard. Keeping a portable boarding ladder on hand is a good idea to ensure everyone can get back into the boat.
Make sure you have all required safety equipment – especially life jackets. You must have enough life jackets for everyone on board. Make sure you have child-sized life jackets available. All passengers under the age of 12 must wear their life jacket while in the open part of a boat that is underway.
Finally, don’t drink and boat. Kentucky law prohibits drinking on the water – whether you are a boat operator or passenger. Yet half of the state’s boating-related fatalities involve alcohol. Conservation officers with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources will be out in full force, looking for impaired boaters and helping to keep everyone’s July 4th weekend safe.
For complete boating regulations, pick up a copy of the 2008 Kentucky Fishing & Boating Guide, available wherever fishing licenses are sold.
Related posts
Upper Snake Sportsmen To Offer Youth Skills Day
April 27, 2008
Today’s youth have lots of things that they can do with their time, probably too many things.
Traditional leisure time activities, such as fishing and hunting, are taking a backseat to Xboxes and MP3 players. There are many reasons for this shift, but the sportsmen’s groups of the Upper Snake Region have joined forces to offer youths a chance to experience a variety of outdoor activities from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Beaver Dick Park on Highway 33 outside Rexburg.
While Idaho is sportsman’s paradise, with all kids of opportunity for exciting outdoor activities like fishing, hunting, trapping and horse packing, many young people don’t know how to make the initial contact to get started.
What used to be an activity that the whole family enjoyed, such as fishing, has failed to make the jump to our youngest generation. It seems no one in the family knows how to do the activity any more, or lacks the gear, but more than likely doesn’t have the time to get out.
Sportsmen’s groups in the Upper Snake Region have taken the step to reach out to young people; they want to make sure the sporting traditions carry-on.
Registration starts at 8:30 a.m., and everyone who takes part in at least six of the mini-seminars will be entered in a drawing for a rifle. The seminars are free and will cover such topics as fishing, archery, trapping, turkey calling, boat safety, duck hunting, muzzleloading, hound hunting and horse packing.
A trailer with a portable laser shooting gallery will also be on hand for youngsters to test their skills.
Beaver Dick Park is along the banks of the Henry’s Fork and next to Idaho Fish and Game’s Cartier Slough Wildlife Management Area. Children of all ages are welcome and families are encouraged to attend. There is sure to be something for everyone, and the goal is to get more people out enjoying the great outdoors of Idaho.
For more information call Fish and Game at 208-525-7290 or through the Idaho Relay Service at 1-800-377-3529 (TDD).
Recent Comments