Boating Accidents

Too Much Talking - Too Much Noise - Too Much Beer!

Living on the shore of one of our Great Lakes, the season for boating, fishing, swimming and fun in the sun is rapidly approaching. Various stop lights are being activated again to control the flow of traffic. Power boats are being pulled (on trailers) into the gas pumps of our local service stations, trying to save the crazy mark-ups at the Marina gas pumps. I never could understand why a guy could dump mega bucks on a Scarab or Cigarette and not be able to pay the extra toll on gasoline at their Marina fuel pumps? Cars with strange license plates are starting to show up, mostly to open up condos, cottages, mobile homes and other summer dwellings for the summer. Robins are seen hopping about in more increasing numbers and the weekend warriors are coming - They're Back!!!

I received a link to a video clip from a friend, which documented a Coast Guard vessel, while trying to clear the area of boats in an attempt to locate a missing (presumed drowned) man, run over top of a power boat crossing their path form their right to left. I think they call that "right of way"? In their high powered CG "Cutter" they either didn't see him or were just plain not giving way, but they cut the powerboat in 1/2 with two uninjured boaters being pulled out of the powerboat, floating upside down in pieces. Boating accidents are staggering at times. Weekend warriors are notorious for steaming full throttle over reefs submerged just inches below water level and if that's not exciting enough for you, there's always the crew of a big open water racing/high performance boat, running head on into Islands, Channel Break Walls or simply exploding at their moorings.

All of these thoughts were on my mind after watching this video clip and I only hope that this year will hold less accidents, missing fisherman, floating bodies and suspected foul plays. I much prefer silence at night than the screaming of braking vehicles, followed by the inevitable huge thud, indicating an impact. I love to look at the stars on a clear evening but I hate the weekly sounds of Life Flight Helo's cutting the air as they scream across the sky with some poor soul inside or on their way to a rescue mission.

Boating is great fun, offering water sports like fishing, diving, underwater photography, wake boarding and many more endeavors. Please try to abstain from the use of alcohol or other recreational substances while operating your power boat, keep your head on a swivel, have a life jacket on or within reach, have a ship to shore radio and always leave a travel itinerary behind - just in case!