Here are some important tips for boaters to ensure they enjoy their trip onto the water
The waterways of the Coastal Bend are the perfect place for someone to set out on a boat for the Fourth of July holiday, and with the proper safety gear and procedures, they're bound to have a memorable trip.
One place to leave shore is the Sunset Island docks at Marker 37 Marina, accessible off Park Road 22.
Corpus Christi residents and Padre Islanders know the pier, restaurant and recreational area for their scenic views of the Laguna Madre, where they can enjoy the wind tidal flats and barrier beaches. The lagoon is also home to some of the most extensive colonial water bird rookeries in Texas, as well as plentiful red drum, black drum and spotted sea trout for anyone wanting to fish, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Service.
Before stepping out into a boat, however, there are a few tips that people should take to ensure the safety of themselves and other boaters, as well as the marine habitat.
The first step is ensuring they have taken a Boater Education course, available in multiple formats, to ensure they know the necessary safety equipment, navigation rules and how to operate a boat, as well as state laws for boating.
The course is required for anyone born on or after Sept. 1, 1993, who wishes to operate certain vessels on public waterways, and it is encouraged by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for anyone planning to operate a motorboat, sailboat, paddle craft or personal watercraft.
Through TPWD, the course is certified through the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and ensures people who complete the course will have a copy of their certification to take with them while operating a boat.
This important course will ensure boaters are well-aware of the integral parts of navigating water such as the hyper-saline lagoon, among other boating locales throughout the Coastal Bend.
"The water of the Laguna Madre is shallow, with an average depth of 3 feet, so you need to know your boat's draft on and off plane and how much draft it requires to get on plane so that you don't destroy sea grass by plowing through too-shallow water or cause damage to your own boat, propeller and lower unit," said Freedom Boat Club of the Coastal Bend Capt. Patrick Buchanan. The company, which offers participants boating lessons and boat rentals, operates 400 locations across the U.S., including in Corpus Christi.
Groups such as the Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program work in partnership with Texas Parks and Wildlife to protect native sea grass habitats. With its "lift, drift, pole and troll" campaign, CBBEP implores boaters to be careful when navigating submerged sea grass meadows by lifting their motor when encountering shallow waters, drifting their boat through sea grass beds, poling it through shallow water or trolling the boat with a trolling motor.
This sequential practice ensures that boaters prevent scarring the sea grasses with boat motors and do their part to prevent coastal erosion. The group also places signs around the rookery islands that tell people not to land their boats on the nesting bird sites.
Boaters should conduct a safety boarding check that includes the following items:
A sounding device
A fire extinguisher that should be checked regularly to ensure that it works
An appropriately fitting life jacket for every person on board
A boater registration card
Another item not on safety boarding check that should be taken aboard, particularly on windy days, is an appropriately-sized anchor with a sufficient amount of rope, Buchanan said.
In the event that something goes wrong in the channel, they should drop the anchor to prevent drifting out to the middle of the flats. Many boats now feature a hydraulic pole that secures the boat with a fiberglass spike instead of an anchor--a much better option due to the stringy, viny texture of the sea grasses present in the lagoon, he said.
In addition to these safety tips, one of the most important pieces of equipment for boaters is eye wear--ideally, a pair of good-quality polarized glasses. These can cost anywhere from $20 for a temporary pair to $250 for a higher-quality set, Buchanan said.
Above all, boaters should pay close attention to the daily weather forecast and monitor the tides to ensure The National Weather Service Corpus Christi South Texas Tide and Astronomical Data provides helpful up-to-date information on tides, sea temperatures throughout South Texas, he said.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Here are some key tips for boaters to ensure they enjoy their trip