One of the things that bothers every Coast Guard Auxiliarist, whether on patrol or observing boaters from their shore-side homes, is seeing young people with feet and arms draped over the bow of a boat. Why? A sudden shift in the boat’s speed or course can cause one of these young folks to fall overboard and disappear under the boat and into the churning propeller. Bow riding is not only dangerous. It’s not legal.

On several recent safety patrols, Flotilla 3-10 Auxiliary crews have strongly urged other vessel captains to have their young charges, who have been hanging over the bow, get back into the interior of the boat. In every case, they have complied. Whew! And to think that most of the offenders were not wearing life jackets.  Double whew!! And they were under the age of 13. Triple Whew!!! No charge for saving a young life; we’re volunteers.

Bow riding has become an alarming practice and also an alarming, sometimes deadly statistic. According to the Dire tor of Auxiliary, 5th Southern region, “In 2008, there were 65 boating fatalities recorded in the 5th District, a 5 per cent increase from 2007. The primary contributing factors in 20% of these fatalities was the standing or sitting on the gunwhales (side), bow, or transom of boats, which represented a 500% increase from 2007.

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U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 33 based in Kilmarnock is offering a seven-week Boating Skills and Seamanship course beginning February 2. Designed for the novice as well as the experienced boater, the Boating Skills and Seamanship is a well-rounded course that covers many aspects of boating.

“Statistics have consistently shown that boaters who have not taken a Safety Boating Course make up over 80% of boating fatalities,” commented Wally Dawson, Commander of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 33. “That is a very powerful statistic, so we strongly urge boat owners and their families to take the time to be safer boaters.”

Many insurance companies offer premium discounts on boat insurance with the successful completion of this NASBLA approved boating safety course. Graduates are also registered with the State of Virginia as having completed a state approved boating safety course.

The course was written by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and is co-sponsored by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Topics covered during the course include boating terminology, boat types, boat handling, boating laws, personal safety equipment, navigation rules and aids, use of nautical charts, knots, marine radio, trailering, personal watercraft, and understanding weather.

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Living as we do along the Atlantic Coast and tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, our boats are prone to hurricane damage. Hurricane season runs from June 1–Nov 30. While there may have been a lull in the number and severity of hurricanes in our area in the 1980s, they seem to have blossomed again in recent years. And then there are Nor’easters that could be just “out-of-season” hurricanes. In any event, with thousands of recreational and commercial watercraft in our area, it’s worth the time and effort to have a plan in case a hurricane threatens.

Where is your boat?

Recent studies have shown that boats stored out of the water are less likely to suffer significant damage than boats left in the water. They might tip over on land but they can sink in the water.

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