NEWS

Safe Boating Week: How to be safe on the water in St. Johns County

Lorraine Thompson
Correspondent

The waters in and around St. Johns County draw boaters from all over the country, especially during the summer months. With more than a million registered vessels in Florida, it’s no wonder that the state also leads the nation in boating accidents with 751 recreational accidents reported in 2021.

U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in four out of every five recreational boating fatalities in 2020 and that 86% of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.

National Safe Boating Week serves as a reminding to all boaters to brush up on boating safety skills and prepare for the boating season.

Travel for boating classes: Boating Safety Courses in Florida

Boat Safety Week is May 21

The National Safe Boating Council also recommends that boaters take a boating safety course and schedule a free vessel safety check with local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons to make sure all essential equipment is present, working and in good condition.

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 14-7 St. Augustine Flotilla Commander Sean P. Flynn agrees.

“Wearing a life jacket is the most important thing a boater can do," Flynn said. "We also encourage every skipper to investigate, own, register and wear a ‘Personal Locator Beacon, and if your vessel has or will have one, please wear your Engine Cut-off Switch (ECOS) whether manufacturer-installed or one you’ve added, as required, whenever piloting the vessels.”

Flynn continued, “If we compare the fatality rates for boaters who have taken a boating safety course in the past ten years to those who did not, we find an “untrained” boater is five times more likely to die in a boating accident than one who received boating safety training. The training course is required in Florida if you’re 24 years of age or older. You must complete the course to obtain a Boater Safety Card, to legally operate most motor-powered boats on your own, including Personal Water Craft (PWC).”

St. Augustine’s Flotilla 14-7 is one of hundreds of volunteer flotillas nationwide whose mission is to contribute to the safety and security of boaters, ports, waterways, and coastal regions with the focus on recreational boating safety and education. Flotilla members come from all walks of life. Some are retired military. Others are experienced or unexperienced boaters just looking to learn more about their local waterways, with the desire to become part of the local boating scene. Members are trained in boating safety and other aspects of on-the-water experiences.

Boater education courses aren’t just for boaters. The Florida Wildlife Commission urges owners of human powered watercraft, such as paddleboards and kayaks, to take a boating education class to be better prepared for risks they may face. 

Boaters and other water enthusiasts have many ways to get educated, from classroom courses offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons to online offerings available anytime--day or night. 

Learn more about boater safety education by visiting MyFWC.com/boating and clicking on Boating Safety and Education. To learn more about the U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 4-7, email pa@mysafeboating.com. Find information on safety courses at boatsmartexam.com/Florida.