Autumn Advice
Coast Guard Tips
by John Malatak, Chief of Program Operations, U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety
November 5, 2007
Fall and winter excursions on the water can help you salve the pangs of boating withdrawal. But
there are important safety considerations to keep in mind when you're boating during this time of
the year.
Most boating accidents occur during the summer, when more boaters are out on the water. But
the potential for more severe accidents rises dramatically in the "off-season." U.S. Coast Guard
national statistics show that less than one in 10 boating accidents in July involves a fatality; in
December, it's one in two, which is a dramatic difference.
Now is the time to make sure your emergency kit is up to date. When you plan an outing on the
water, include a dry change of clothes; high-energy snack food; fresh water; a thermos of coffee,
cocoa, or other warm liquid; duct tape; a waterproof portable VHF marine band radio; a flashlight
with extra batteries; flares; and matches. Consider adding an Emergency Position Indicating Radio
Beacon (EPIRB). Stow all of these materials in a waterproof bag or a small, watertight cooler with
an attached length of polypropylene line to protect them from rain, sleet, snow or spray.
Cell phones frequently lose signal and are unidirectional -- only one person receives the
phone call compared to many who may hear a VHF radio distress call -- so carry a cell phone as a
backup to your VHF radio. Also, be sure you have enough fuel. The rule of thumb is one-third to go
out, one-third to get back, and one-third for emergencies.
Life
jackets are the truly essential piece of cold-weather boating equipment. Don't just carry a life
jacket; wear a properly fitting, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times while you're
boating. There's rarely time to put on a life jacket during an emergency, and if you fall or are
thrown into cold water when your boat swamps or capsizes, your chance of survival increases
dramatically if your life jacket is on.
One life jacket style to consider during the fall and winter months is a flotation jacket, a
U.S. Coast Guard-approved Type III PFD (Personal Flotation Device). Lined with foam for buoyancy
and insulation, flotation jackets typically come with a concealed hood, storm cuffs and sealed
seams to keep out wind and water. In an unexpected cold-water plunge, the flotation jacket will
help keep a boater's head above the surface while providing warmth to delay cold-water shock and
immersion hypothermia.
Ensure the vessel is equipped with at least one Type IV PFD, preferably a life ring or horse
collar-type, with an attached line. If your boat has no boarding ladder, you may want to use a
sling instead. Climbing back on a boat after a fall overboard can be next to impossible in heavy,
cold, wet winter clothes -- even if you're otherwise uninjured.
Bring your safety gear, but don't bring too much else. The small boats favored by outdoor
sports enthusiasts can be easily overloaded with decoys, dogs (make sure your dog has a life jacket
as well), people, guns, game, coolers and sporting equipment. Be sure to distribute passengers and
equipment evenly in the boat to give it balance, and watch the load. Never take a chance on a
small, overloaded boat to get you safely across any waterway, especially in windy, choppy
conditions.
The U.S. Coast Guard reminds all boaters, "You're in Command. Boat Responsibly!"
Related Links:
www.USCGboating.org (http://www.USCGboating.org)