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Marine Police Emphasizes Boating Safety

By DAVID RAINER

Beautiful weather has boaters “coming out of the woodwork” to hit Alabama’s abundant waterways, reservoirs and coastal waters.

With the added traffic from boaters and anglers comes an increased risk of accidents, which can be minimized with the right equipment and operating procedures.

Despite the best efforts of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Marine Police Division, last year was not one Capt. Bob Huffaker, Marine Police’s head enforcement officer, wants to see repeated.

Since the boat operator’s license requirement became effective in 1998, there had been a significant decrease in fatalities. That is until 2006.

“Last year was unacceptable with 24 fatalities,” Huffaker said. “There were more multiple fatalities per accident than I can ever recall. And, more fatalities are occurring on small ponds – people get out in the boat without a life jacket and the boat capsizes.

A small body of water will kill you just as easily as the Gulf of Mexico or a large impoundment. A life jacket won’t do you any good unless you wear it.”

With National Safe Boating Week set for May 19-25, Huffaker wants all boaters to double-check safety equipment and make sure licenses and registrations are in order.

“Usually registration and safety equipment are our most common violations,” Huffaker said. “Insufficient PFDs (personal flotation devices), failure to have kill switch attached, no boating license are some of the most common.”

An emergency cut-off “kill” switch is required on boats less than 24 feet with open hull construction and powered by more than a 50 horsepower motor. Also, state law requires that the switch be attached to the boat operator’s clothing, PFD, or person while the boat is underway.

“Most manufacturers are equipping even smaller engines with cut-off switches,” Huffaker said. “It will save a life if people will just use them. If you slip and fall into the bottom of the boat or fall out of the boat, it will cut off the engine instead of letting it become an unguided missile.”

As for PFDs, Huffaker said there are numerous ways boaters run afoul of the law.

“A lot of times, they just don’t have enough for the number of people on board,” he said. “PFD’s must be U.S. Coast Guard approved, sized to fit, and in good shape. Dry rot, missing straps or buckles, or any tears in the fabric will make it unserviceable. All boats must have a wearable PFD for each person on board, and boats 16 feet or larger must also have a throwable device – a seat cushion or ring buoy that is also Coast Guard-approved.

“Also, children under 8 must wear a PFD any time they are on board a vessel unless they are below deck inside a cabin. If they’re in an open boat or on the upper deck, they are required to wear it.”

Most boats are required to have a fire extinguisher, but Huffaker said many boaters fail to make sure the extinguisher is operational.

“The favorite place for a dirt dobber (dauber if you live north of Huntsville) to build a nest is in the nozzle, so it’s best to check and make sure there are no obstructions,” he said. “Also, if you’re operating at night or during bad weather, you have to have proper navigation lights – red and green on bow and white light on stern in most cases. You need to make sure they are operational with no blown bulbs or fuses. It’s always a good idea to bring spare bulbs and fuses.”

Go to www.outdooralabama.com/boating/safetychecklist.cfm for a list of tips to make your day on the water safe and enjoyable.

One of those tips that is often overlooked, especially when it gets crowded, is the one about courtesy. Because access to the water is somewhat limited and the activity at boat ramps hectic, it’s best for boaters to make their time at the ramp fast, so others won’t be furious. Never load and unload equipment while on the boat ramp. Load it up before you get in line and pull away from the ramp before you unload any gear.

There are also links on the aforementioned page that list the required equipment for each boat classification.

One aspect of boating that concerns Huffaker a great deal is the number of boating under the influence (BUI) incidents. The boating under the influence law for boaters is very similar to the driving under the influence law (DUI) for motorists. If your blood alcohol level is .08 or above, you are deemed “under the influence.”

“I just talked with Sgt. Jody Kelly at Orange Beach. They started their patrols last Friday and worked all weekend,” Huffaker said. “The major problem they had, in that area, was boating under the influence. The officers made 11 arrests for BUI. That’s a lot for one week-end. To me, that sends up a red flag, and people need to know that we will be aggressively pursuing violators.”

With Memorial Day only a few weeks away, Huffaker knows the Marine Police staff is only going to get busier.

“With 271,000 boats registered in the state last year and over 600,000 licensed operators, it’s a very popular outdoor activity and it continues to grow,” he said. “Boating traffic has picked up all over the state due to the warm weather, and I’m sure it will be even busier by Memorial Day. We want people to enjoy themselves, but we want them to be safe.”