With boating season on horizon, Coast Guard, boat captains urge training
Boating can be a lot of fun, but it can also be dangerous, even deadly.
In 2022, recreational boating accidents claimed 636 lives and injured 2,222 people, according to the Coast Guard. Those 4,040 incidents caused some $63 million in property damage. In Rhode Island, there have been nine fatalities since 2020, including three in 2022, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. (The DEM data is tracked by fiscal year.)
With Memorial Day weekend approaching, the recreational boating season is about to hit full throttle in Rhode Island and across the country. The Coast Guard is marking National Safe Boating Week, May 20 to May 26, by asking boaters "to reflect on the boating behaviors that will keep you, your loved ones, and those around you safe while on the water."
Lack of training is a big factor in boat fatalities
The vast majority of fatal crashes in 2022 happened on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instruction, according to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard was not able to get the full history of operators on all the crashes, but where the information was known, 74% of deaths were on boats where the operator hadn't received formal boating instruction, the Coast Guard said.
In Rhode Island, more than 36,000 recreational boats are registered but only some recreational boaters are required to have safety training. A boating certificate is required for anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 1986, who is operating a boat with an engine of 10 horsepower or greater, according to state law. Certification is required for anyone of any age operating a personal watercraft, which includes jet skis and similar craft.
Certification requires passing a written test but no on-the-water training or testing the way a road test is required for a driver's license.
More: Recent drownings are reminders of danger. Key tips for staying safe in RI waters
Want to learn how to drive a boat safely in Rhode Island?
In Rhode Island, at least two private businesses are offering on-the-water boating instruction that can expand a recreational boater's aptitude beyond that classroom instruction.
Freedom Boat Club, which has six locations in Rhode Island, is offering on-the-water instruction out of Warwick and Newport to anyone, not just club members, through its new program, BoatClass, according to Michelle Voss, a spokeswoman.
"We want better boaters out there," said Freedom Captain Tim Wordell.
Rhode Island waters include a mixture of boat operators, according to Wordell, some who know and abide by the rules, but many others who don't know the rules. Not to mention the people who might know them but don't follow them. He likens it to driving through a busy store parking lot, with the potential for conflicts, many coming at high speed, from any direction.
"You don't know what someone else's intentions are," Wordell said.
BoatClass courses are three hours and the charge is $199 for weekday classes and $249 on weekends. It's in addition to the on-the-water training required for club membership. Membership is not required to take the class, but the club offers a discount for those who've taken the class and decide to join.
Capt. David Fetherston, owner of Wickford Boat Rentals, ramped up his training program a few years ago when he realized he was turning away 60% of his potential boat customers because they weren't qualified to operate boats.
"I can't put people out there who don't know what they're doing," Fetherston said.
In affiliation with the Boat U.S. Foundation, Wickford Boat Rentals' In-Command Seamanship Training offers a three-hour on-the-water introductory course for $199. The introductory course doesn't necessarily qualify a person to rent at Wickford Boat Rentals. In-Command Seamanship Training also offers more advanced courses and one-on-one instruction with a captain, Fetherston said.
Top safety tips from the Coast Guard and boat captains
In addition to taking a boating safety course, the Coast Guard is stressing that boaters should always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket "appropriate to your water activity." (Where the cause of death was known, 75% of fatal boating accident victims drowned, the Coast Guard said. Of those drowning victims, 85% were not wearing a life jacket.)
Here are some other tips:
Don't drink and boat. Alcohol use remains the leading contributing factor in fatal boating incidents, the Coast Guard says.
Have a reliable means of communication on board.
File a float plan with someone you trust, including a recent photo of your boat.
Wordell says boaters should keep a close eye on the weather in planning and during their trips. "In the summer, we get pop-up thunderstorms and on the water is not where you want to be," he said.
He also stresses operating at a safe speed.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Boat safety in RI: What to know before getting behind the wheel or tiller
