Boating Safety

Boating Safety

There is nothing better on a beautiful summer day than heading out for a day of fun cruising around Key Biscayne on your boat. Florida has more registered boats than any other state, and also has more boating accidents than any other state. Most deaths from boating accidents occur because the victims are not wearing a PFD or Life Jacket. So, if you take nothing else away from this article, remember to wear your life jacket while enjoying your boat outing. Here are some additional safe boating tips.

Be aware of your surroundings

Remember, when you are the boat operator you are the responsible party. You are responsible for the safety of the passengers, the wake your vessel creates and any damaged it causes, maintaining a proper lookout and safe speed, and using good seamanship (good decisions, sound judgment). Remember to be courteous to your fellow boaters by watching your wake, being efficient at the boat ramp, and keep a watchful eye for people in the water.

Be courteous to the environment

Remember to take any garbage back to the dock with you as well. Keep our oceans clean by picking up after yourself and, if you feel the need, any other garbage you find in the waterways.

Use navigation aids properly

If you haven’t noticed, look the next time you are out and about on Biscayne Bay, there are green and red signs called Day Markers. These help illuminate the safe water channel where the water is deep enough to not worry about groundings.

The best way to remember which markers go on which side is “Red, Right, Return”, this means that as you return from the ocean to the dock the red colored markers should be on your right. Therefore, if you are leaving the dock the green markers should then be on your right. The white signs or buoys with orange on them are regulatory markers and denote speed or hazards, such as manatee zones. A couple other important things to know are the US Dive Flag and International Dive Flag.

If you would like to learn more about boating safety, the US Coast Guard has several courses listed at http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/boating_safety_courses_.aspx and be sure to wear your life jacket while out cruising, enjoying the sun!

If you would like more tips and regulations, visit http://myfwc.com/boating/regulations/#nogo by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission.