Safety in Small Boats

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Safety In Small Boats

I often wonder just what, exactly, is in people's heads concerning safety on the water, especially in small boats. Living less than a mile from the Arkansas River, I get to be witness to some of the stupidest acts of safety disregard imaginable. People standing in small aluminum boats, with no life jacket, running them full speed below locks and dams. People allowing their small children, with no life jackets on to sit on the front of small aluminum boats and drag their feet in the water while the boat is underway. Overloaded 14 foot flatbottom boats headed up river with five people aboard - no life jackets. That's the reason that a regular activity of local law enforcement and rescue teams on the Arkansas River is dragging for bodies.

Safety in small boats (or any boat for that matter) is paramount, and to disregard it is stupid. There is no state in the U.S. that allows people to legally be underway in a boat without life jackets. Federal Law covers what state laws do not on U.S. controlled waterways. Yet people in every state every year drown falling off of boats without life jackets on while boats are underway. Last in consideration if good sense just doesn't work is that if you get caught by waterfront patrol, game and fish officers or other water police, lack of legal safety devises will get you ticketed at least, arrested at worst. But it's better than you or some adult or child in your boat being killed. The U.S. Coast Guard has all the safety information you will need to intelligently outfit your small boat.

The most basic of safety devices in a small boat is life jackets. They are not a major investment, but you do not want to fall in a lake with a boat underway without one on.

Life jackets aside there are a number of safety items necessary to keep your boat legal and safe. One throwable Type IV device must be in any boat over 16 feet long in Arkansas waters, but why wouldn't you want one in any size boat where standing, or moving around in the boat is necessary. It's jut a cushion you can sit on, but can be a life saver if somebody falls out of the boat.

And while requirements vary from state to state, and small boats are often exempt from requirements of larger boats, why not have some basic safety devices on board? You can bet if you are on the water enough, you will need them all at some point.

In my boat, I carry a small fire extinquisher, portable air horn, paddle, and always have an anchor. You haven't lived until you've been in significant current or wind and had your engine fail. Without an anchor to stop or significantly slow you down, you can end up in serious trouble pushed far off course, or pulled into the backside of a dam or washed up on a rock jetty.

I actually consider even my trolling motor a safety device. Knowing I will be fishing below large dams with heavy current, if my engine fails that big trolling motor will get me across the river or at least to a place of safety in spite of current.

Extra battery, supplies, cell phone, 12 volt plug and adapter for plugging in devices, flairs, and some basic tools will round out the safety equipment on your small boat. And don't forget legal lights if you plan to be on the water after dark. Even if you don't plan on a night excursion, a small flashlight could be a lifesaver if you get stranded on the water until daylight goes out. Go out without these items long enough and you'll live (hopefully) to regret it.

The bottom line here, is that where safety is concerned, we don't need to lock our doors, put on our seatbelts, make sure our kids safe, get our medical checkups, take care of our teeth, exercise for our health.........and then get stupid when we get on the water. Fishing from small boats is a barrel of fun that can be turned into a nightmare if basic safety precautions are not implemented. The good news is, it's easy to outfit a small boat for a safe as well as fun trip to the lake. Don't delay doing it. Your and your guests' lives depend on it.

Here's to your good fishing.....and safety ~ Mark Rogers

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