Boating safely determines fun factor

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elliott Velez
  • 56th Fighter Wing Safety
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Critical Days of Summer

Within an hour you can be at one of the premier lakes in the state of Arizona, Lake Pleasant. A four hour drive can get you to one of the most talked about lakes in the world, Lake Havasu. So why not take advantage of these opportunities while stationed here at Luke Air Force Base?

An outstanding way to enjoy everything that a state lake has to offer is on a boat. Whether your preference is to use a boat for fishing, wake boarding, waterskiing, tubing, or just leisure, it is vital to remember there is a safe way to do boating activities.

However, boating can potentially lead to a high cost you are not willing to pay if you don't reach out to become educated on proper boating techniques. Last year, Arizona had 142 accidents, 89 reported injuries and six deaths.

According to Arizona Game and Fish, educated boaters are 70 percent less likely to be involved in a boating accident. The best thing you can do for your safety, the safety of your passengers and other boaters is simple - take a boating education course.

In addition to taking the boating education course, you can also prevent mishaps by avoiding boating violations. Listed in the box are the top ten boating violations provided from the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators.

Lastly, the key to a good time is to ensure that if you are going boating with people who are consuming alcohol, assign a person to be the designated driver.

Although it may seem that beer, music and speed are all necessities while boating, operating a boat while impaired is just as dangerous and illegal as drinking and driving an automobile. The penalties are similar as well. Any detection by law enforcement of operating a water vessel under the influence will land you a "class one" misdemeanor as a minimum punishment. Understanding how to safely conduct boating operations will greatly enhance your time out on the water. Be boat smart, boat safe, boat sober and the fun will fall into place.

For more information on renting one of the 15 boats available at Luke Air Force Base, call 56th Force Support Squadron Outdoor Recreation at (623) 856-6267.

Sidebar:

Arizona's Top 10 Boating Violations
1. Not enough life jackets (personal flotation devices) for everyone on board the vessel.
2. Fire extinguisher -- lack of, nonmarine type, and/or out of service.
3. Riding on bow, transom or gunwales of a vessel operating above a wakeless speed.
4. Operating under the influence.
5. Excessive wake or speed.
6. No Type IV throwable PFD on board.
7. Children, ages 12 and younger, not wearing life jackets while underway.
8. Reckless operation of a personal watercraft.
9. Lights -- specifically no or incorrect navigation lights.
10. Water-skiing without an observer.