Free Boating Safety Courses Offered in Hingham Next Week

Hingham boaters as young as 12 years-old are invited to take free boating safety courses this Spring at the

The classes will be offered by the Hingham Harbormaster and in coordination with the

After on the South Shore last summer, Mark Brennan, the Hingham Deputy Harbormaster said these safety courses should be mandatory for all boaters.

“Only 10 percent of boaters have the education,” Brennan said last summer. “ If I could emphasize one thing to boaters, it’s to get the safety license. Understand the rules. Be smart!”

Brennan said most of the people he stops, do not even know what they are doing is wrong.

To receive the Basic Boating Safety Certificate, participants must attend all four classes which will be held on April 25, 26 and May 2, 3 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Course completion will allow persons to legally operate a boat in all states that require completion of a Basic Boating Safety Course. These courses are designed for persons of all ages over 12 years, regardless of boating skill. Completion of a course by persons between 12 and 16 years of age will allow them to operate a motorboat without adult supervision.  Many insurance companies also offer policy discounts for customers that complete a Basic Boating Safety Course.

This class will be closed after 50 applications are received. For more information and to sign up callcontact Mark Brennan at the Hingham Harbormaster office (781) 741-1450 or by email, brennanm@hingham-ma.com

Top 10 Primary Contributing Factors of Boating Accidents

• Operator inattention
• Careless/reckless behavior
• Passenger/skier behavior
• Excessive speed
• Alcohol use – Boating Under the Influence (BUI)
• No proper lookout
• Operator inexperience
• Machinery failure
• Weather
• Equipment failure

Source: A 2007 study by the American Boating Association

Ways to Avoid Accidents

• Always check local weather conditions before you leave on a boating trip.  While you’re out on the water, if you notice the clouds getting darker or a sudden drop in temperature, start heading back to land.
• Operate the boat at safe speeds at all time, especially in crowded areas.  Remain alert and avoid large vessels and watercraft that have restricted ability to stop or turn. 
• Make sure more than one person on board is familiar with all aspects of your boat’s handling, operations, and other boating safety tips.
• Always be sure to have a float plan—letting someone know where you’re going and how long you plan to be gone for.
• Make sure there are enough lifejackets onboard for each person accompanying you out on the water.  
• Take a boating safety course to learn more about how to stay safe on the water!

Source: The Massachusetts Environmental Police

Life Jackets

In 2009, more than 74 percent of all fatalities nationally from boating accidents were due to drowning, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. Of those who drowned, 71 percent of the victims were not wearing a life jacket.

Drinking

A half a drink of alcohol can increase a boater’s risk of death by 30 percent, according to the American Boating Association.