Coast Guard Auxiliary Offers Safe Boating Classes

From the US Coast Guard:

February 5 2020

Piloting a boat is just like driving a car. Except there are no turn signals, no marked lanes, no headlights or fog lamps, no seat belts or airbags, no impact-absorbing bumpers, no uniform child safety seat regulations, no four-way emergency flashers, no speed limits in large expanses of the waterways, and no back-up cameras.

Oh, and there are no brakes, either.

So before you back that boat down the Seminole Boat Ramp and head for the Gulf or before you decide that Caladesi Island State Park is a good place to try out the used ski boat you just purchased, it’s time to go to class.

There’s Driver Ed for all of those 16-year-olds raring to get on the road, and it is equally important for boat owners of all ages to get educated on the ways of the water before they take that maiden voyage. Wait ... given the no-brakes factor, it could be even more important.

The cooler and unpredictable days of winter are some of the best times to take a boating safety class. A class is a great way to prepare those new boaters for their first season on the water and refresh the experienced ones on the rules of the watery road, and the latest in safety equipment and practices.

The Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering “About Boating Safely” taught by certified instructors at 510 North Ft. Harrison Ave, Clearwater. The class meets on the second weekend of the month from 8 a.m.to 1 p.m.

“We like to offer these courses throughout the year. Given the changeable weather in winter and early spring, our early courses give people plenty of time to prepare for the warmer weather boating season, instead of having to rush once the first nice weekend of spring gets here,” said Karen Miller, the Clearwater Coast Guard Auxiliary Public Education officer. “Learning about the safety aspect of boating first also gives them time to make sure they have the necessary safe boating equipment.”

Boating safety is an increasingly important priority since strong boat sales mean more craft on the water. The National Marine Manufacturers Association recently announced that the 2019 sales figures show that approximately 280,000 new powerboats were sold in the year, the second-highest total since 2007.

“Each season brings new boaters out on the local waters, and there is certainly a lot more to boating than they might realize,” Miller said. “For those new to boating, the class is so important. The statistics show that people who take a safe boating class are less likely to be involved in any kind of accident on the water.”

Coast Guard studies from recent years indicate that in cases where the boating instruction status of the boat operator was known, 74 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had not received boating safety instruction.

The boating safety class is also a requirement for many boaters in Florida. In the Sunshine State, anyone born after Jan. 1, 1988, must successfully complete a boater safety course approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in order to operate any boat powered by more than 10 horsepower, and they are required to carry their boater education card with them when out on the water along with picture ID.

Miller also said the safe boating course might be the best first step for anyone considering buying a boat since the knowledge they will gain from the class will make that a much more educated purchase. “It is a very good starting point for people who are thinking about buying a boat. They should do this first, to see what they are getting into,” she said. “The instructors who teach the class are experienced boaters and can give information on what kind of boat might fit each person’s needs.”

It isn’t just new boats bringing a fresh crop of boaters to the waterways in the region since NMMA data shows that some 975,000 pre-owned boats were sold in the U.S. in 2019. The U.S. has an estimated 11.9 million registered boats, and about 95 percent of those are less than 26 feet in length and capable of being trailered. The boating industry expects 2020 to be another strong year for boat sales, given the solid economy and consumer spending numbers. Florida has more than 950,000 registered vessels and that doesn’t include canoes, kayaks, and stand up paddle boards!

Miller said that regardless of whether it is a new or used boat, and whether the boater is experienced or a rookie, taking the safety class is time well spent. “We cover the basics of trailering, launching and retrieving, along with boat ramp courtesy and the rules of navigation, but our main message is risk mitigation,” Miller said. “We want to use the course to minimize the risk of an accident taking place, and minimize the effects of the accident. What to do in case of an emergency is one of the most important aspects of this class.”

Contact the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Clearwater Flotilla, for boating safety classes at: www.clwboatingsafety.com or by email at clwtr.auxboating@gmail.com or call 727-469-8895.

This press release was produced by the US Coast Guard. The views expressed here are the author’s own.