August 3, 2012

Stay Safe on the Water

Wisconsin is a boater’s paradise.  With more than 15,000 lakes, 84,000 miles of rivers, access to the Mississippi River and access to two of the Great Lakes (Lake Michigan and Lake Superior), Wisconsin is a great place for boating.  In fact, it is reported that each of our 72 counties have at least four lakes per county. 

Wisconsin’s waters are used for many recreational purposes, including boating, water skiing, tubing, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing.  Wisconsin has more than 500,000 registered motorboats, or about one for every 10 residents.  Each year, more than 1 million Wisconsin residents and non-residents boat on our waters.  If you are boating or planning on boating on any of Wisconsin’s waters, the following are some useful tips for enjoying your time out on the water.

The number of boaters using Wisconsin’s waterways continues to increase. More boats on the water can mean more potential for accidents.  Make it a habit to wear a life jacket every time you are in a boat.  Also, ensure that everyone on board with you is wearing a life jacket. 

Most of Wisconsin’s boating deaths have occurred in small boats with persons who were not wearing life jackets.  In the past five years, 67 people drowned in boating accidents in Wisconsin and 91% of those individuals were not wearing life jackets.  Similarly, according to the U.S. Coast Guard, 90% of all boaters who have drowned were not wearing a life jacket. 

Wisconsin and U.S. Coast Guard law both require all boats to have a personal flotation device (PFD) for each person on board.  This includes even kayaks and canoes.  Boats over 16 feet in length must have both a life jacket for each person on board and at least one Type IV throwable PFD for the boat.  Each PFD must be Coast Guard approved, in good condition, of a suitable size for the intended person, and readily accessible. 

In order to legally operate a motorized boat on Wisconsin’s waters, a boat must be registered with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR).  Boat registrations are valid for three years.  To register or renew your boat, you may do so online, in person, or by mail.  Information on registering and renewing a boat is available on the DNR Web site at http://dnr.wi.gov/Permits/registrationandtitling.html

Learn the safe boating techniques by completing a boat safety course.  Anyone born on or after January 1, 1989 is required to complete a boat safety course in order to legally operate a motorized boat or personal watercraft (such as a Jet Ski or WaveRunner) on Wisconsin’s waters. 

Taking a boat safety course is a good idea for all boaters, and it could save your life.  Statistics show that those who take boat safety courses are more likely to stay safe on the water.  In fact, four out of five people who die in boating accidents each year have not had formal boat safety training. 

Boat safety classes are available both in the traditional classroom setting and online.  Courses cost $10 for traditional classroom and $30 for internet courses.  For more information on boater safety classes, you may visit the DNR Web site at http://dnr.wi.gov/education/outdoorSkills/safetyEducation.html

It is always a good idea to not combine boating and alcohol.  Alcohol can decrease a person’s ability to operate a boat in many ways.  Balance is off when consuming alcohol, which is dangerous on a boat, as most boating deaths occur from individuals falling out of a small open boat when not wearing a life jacket.  

Also, the sun, glare, wind, and boat motion alone can reduce a person’s reaction time.  Add in alcohol, and reaction time and coordination both significantly decrease.  If alcohol is going to be involved when boating, be sure to have a designated boat driver.   

Other important boating safety tips include inspecting and equipping boats before going out onto the water, and keeping emergency supplies such as a cell phone, maps, and a first aid kit, all on board in a floating pouch. 

To find out information on boat ramps available to the public, visit the DNR’s Boat Access Sites website at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/facilities/boataccess.  Whether you are new to the water or an expert boater, have a safe and fun time boating in Wisconsin.

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Sen. Kedzie can be reached in Madison at P.O. Box 7882, Madison, WI 53707-7882 or by calling toll-free 1 (800) 578-1457.  He may be reached in the district at (262) 742-2025 or on-line at www.senatorkedzie.com