Many Utah residents are heading for the nearest lake or dam to beat the summer heat. Whether you own some type of watercraft, rent one or are going along for the ride, keep safety and courtesy in mind. Consider these tips.

 

• Practice defensive boating. Nationally, operator fault has been determined in more than 75 percent of boating accidents. Common causes include excessive speed, failure to maintain proper lookout, carelessness and inexperience. About 33 percent of boating citations involve improper boat handling. This includes collisions, excessive speed, violation of no wake areas, operating in restricted areas and reckless or careless operation on the water. Further, drugs or alcohol have been involved in one-third of all boating fatalities and this jumps to 50 percent for nighttime accidents.

 

• Wear a life jacket. Boating accidents can occur without warning. It is estimated that 75 percent of those who drown in water accidents would have survived had they worn a personal flotation device (PFD). Utah law requires that boats have a properly sized U.S. Coast Guard-approved PFD for each person aboard. With few exceptions, all individuals being towed in the water, operating a personal watercraft, 12 years of age or younger and white water rafting are required by law to wear a PFD.

 

• Be smart about propeller operation. When swimmers are in the water near the boat, turn off the engine.

 

• Watch for swimmers. Boat operators and passengers should scan the water surface for floating obstacles and swimmers and be prepared to slow and change direction if necessary. Often swimmers are found in areas where they shouldn’t be, such as harbors, launch ramps, docks and in areas marked with “no swimming.”

 

• Plan for emergencies. Common emergencies include colliding with another boat or obstacle, capsizing, someone falling overboard and bad weather. Boats are required by law to have on-board safety equipment such as PFDs, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, audible signaling devices and bailing devices. Safety equipment should be available and in good operating condition. Be sure you know how to use it. Proper equipment and the knowledge of how to use it can make the difference between an emergency that results in a fatality or one that simply becomes an inconvenience.

 

• File a float plan. Notify a responsible person of your boating plan. Tell them when and where you are going and the scheduled time of return. In the event of an accident or mechanical breakdown, a float plan could save your life. It can determine how quickly someone begins looking for you and the size of the area searched. The importance of a float plan is described in a brochure distributed by the National Boating Federation, “Help Take the Search Out of Search and Rescue,” available by request at http://www.n-b-f.org.

 

• Have a radio or cell phone on board. In the event of an emergency or mechanical problem, a radio is the best way to request assistance. Assistance calls are transmitted on channel 16, which is the channel monitored for search and rescue. However, often the closest assistance is another watercraft in the immediate area. Cell phones can also be useful, but the signal may not work and other boats cannot monitor your request for assistance.

 

• Look before turning. The noise level of a boat makes it difficult to hear another boat approaching. This problem is compounded by a faster watercraft overtaking a slower one. An inattentive operator can turn into the path of a faster boat, resulting in a collision or sideswipe.

 

• Use caution when on personal watercraft (PWC) vehicles such as wave runners and jet skis. Some PWC hazards include high speeds and limited braking capabilities. Also, operators and passengers are relatively unprotected in the event of a spill or collision. Utah has regulations governing who can operate PWC’s and where and how they can be used. Utah law requires training before youth 12 to 17 years of age may operate a PWC without an adult on board.

 

• Respect all boaters. Fellow boaters who are also trying to beat the heat can cause overcrowding of lakes and waterways. Respect their rights. Operation of a boat in a negligent manner that endangers lives or property is illegal. A copy of Utah’s boating laws, a free home study course and information on safe boating classes are available by contacting Utah State Parks and Recreation at (801) 538-7378 or at http://stateparks.utah.gov/boating. Other sites include U.S. Coastguard Office of Boating Safety at http://www.uscgboating.org/ and the Foundation for Aquatic Injury Prevention at http://aquaticisf.org/.