Jul. 10—Three boating safety experts say they see boaters violating safety rules on a regular basis on Morgan County waterways. They outlined a few common violations during a recent interview with The Daily. They also gave advice on staying safe on the water.
The call for heightened boating safety comes after the body of a missing boater was found Friday near the Point Mallard Park beach area in Decatur. Justin Shane Letson, 35, was recovered from the Tennessee River about 2:30 p.m. Friday by a team of rescue divers. The coroner confirmed Letson drowned. Officials ruled out foul play. Letson was last seen about 10 p.m. Thursday with several other boats off the shore of Point Mallard following the annual July Fourth Spirit of America Festival.
Meanwhile, state Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman, remains hospitalized at UAB in Birmingham following a July Fourth jet ski accident on Smith Lake. In the accident, he fractured three vertebrae and six ribs, punctured a lung and suffered internal bleeding. His jet ski was struck from behind by a jet ski driven by his son.
Riverwalk Marina owner Steve Conner said he recently saw what he considered a nearly heart-attack inducing boating safety violation on the Tennessee River.
“The other day I saw some people who had a rental pontoon boat out and they were swimming, and the driver of the boat was just driving around them, and I was about to have a heart attack over it,” he said. “The guy was just driving around all the people who were swimming. It’s a common-sense thing,” Connor said, noting the boat operator could have at any time lost control or struck something in the water and put those swimmers in jeopardy.
“They just don’t really realize how sharp that (motor) prop is and how fast it’s going and what it can do to a body,” he said.
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Sit and stay
An often-overlooked rule for boaters is making sure all passengers are seated while the boat is moving.
“When the boat is in operation, everyone needs to be sitting down and not sitting on the swim platforms or gunwales (boat edges),” Connor said. “It’s easy to fall overboard.”
Falling overboard puts a passenger at risk from the prop.
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Life jackets save lives
The number one lifesaving tool for anyone on the water is wearing a life jacket at all times, said Danny Kelso, Morgan County Rescue Squad chief.
“You should wear one even if you are just jumping out and enjoying recreational swimming, because you cannot drown with a life jacket on,” he said.
Under Alabama law, all children under age 8 must wear a life jacket while on a boat. It is also state law that everyone aboard a vessel must have a life jacket available to them. In addition, anyone being towed on skis or a tube, riding a jet ski or Sea Doo, or boating within 800 feet below a dam must wear a life jacket.
Always have a life jacket for everyone on board and have an extra life jacket in addition to that, said Brandon Bailey, senior state trooper, public affairs officer and recruiter for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.
“You never know what you might encounter,” he said.
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Kill switch
All boats come with a kill switch, which is a lanyard attached to the captain of the vessel. If the captain goes overboard, the kill switch is activated and the motor stops immediately.
“The boat operator should always have a kill switch on,” Connor said. “That way if something does happen and he falls, the boat cuts off immediately.”
A lot of injuries occur because people are struck by a prop, Kelso said.
“Every boat has a kill switch but not everybody wears one,” he said.
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Safe distance
Keeping a safe distance from other boats is also crucial for safety, officials said.
“I’ve seen boaters pass within a few yards of each other,” Connor said. “You’ve got the whole river — stay away from other boats.”
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Defensive boating
When motorists are schooled in driving, they are taught to drive defensively. The same applies to drivers of boats, Bailey said.
“Adhere to speed limits on the water and consider basic boat etiquette,” he said. “Be very cautious, be very vigilant, be aware of people around you — either swimming or other boaters close in your area. You don’t operate close to someone who is swimming or someone still in the water because that will cause a ripple that will affect their boat. Those are some of the things that defensively we expect to see on the water. Stay far away when you pass them.”
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Drunk boating
“Always know your limitations when it comes to alcoholic beverage consumption,” Bailey said. “And make sure the boat driver or jet ski driver remains sober.”
He said sometimes people do not take drinking seriously when they are on the water compared to on land.
“They are both equally important things,” Bailey said. “Never operate a vehicle, boat or vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs — anything that will intoxicate you.”
Alcohol and other drugs affect your actions and reactions, he said.
“It’s going to affect the way you think, and it is going to affect your countermeasures if someone is coming at you — your reaction time,” Bailey said. “Those are two very important things about you operating a boat on water.”
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High temperatures
High temperatures can also affect boaters, Bailey said. “With some of the temperatures we’ve been seeing it’s important to stay hydrated,” Bailey said. “Being dehydrated can affect your decision-making. Bring some form of libation — not alcohol but water or Gatorade — because temps are higher on water than on plain land.”
— jean.cole@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2361
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