Spring is officially here, but in terms of the weather it feels like we’re still in February. There’s not much boating going on except for the Crowder Gulf team scanning the bottom and removing houses and cars from the bay.
Now may be a good time to take a refresher course in boating safety. I remember taking my first boating safety course with the Coast Guard Auxiliary 25-years ago. After teaching the “Rules of the Road”, they showed a short film of a boat spontaneously combusting while being fueled at a marina.
I have no doubt that many boaters on the Barnegat bay would benefit greatly from a boating safety course – especially people that are new to boating. There are many dangerous boaters out there that don’t even know some of the “rules of the road” for boating. Inexperienced boaters combined with a lack of a police presence on the bay can lead to boat accidents – which are infinitely more dangerous than car accidents.
That’s going to hurt in the morning
I’ll be taking a refresher course this spring. This website has a list of boating safety courses throughout NJ that last 2 days and cost $75. I may take the April 22nd course in Hoboken because it is only 1 block from my apartment. Upon the completion of the course you receive a NJ boating safety certificate.
An old poem from an 1874 book titled Eldrdige Tide and Pilot Book contains the most important navigation rules – very useful for night driving:
When all three lights I see ahead,
I turn to Starboard and show my Red:
Green to Green, Red to Red,
Perfect Safety — Go Ahead.
But if to Starboard Red appear,
It is my duty to keep clear —
To act as judgment says is proper:
To Port or Starboard, Back or Stop her.
And if upon my Port is seen
A Steamer’s Starboard light of Green,
I hold my course and watch to see
That Green to Port keeps Clear of me.
Both in safety and in doubt
Always keep a good look out.
In Danger, with no room to turn,
Ease her, Stop her, Go Astern.
The U.S. Coast Guard has an excellent guide to recreational boating.
Some important boating safety rules I think should be mentioned quickly for Barnegat bay boaters are:
- Don’t overload your boat – if your boat is too heavy it will become unstable and will not handle properly. Check the capacity plate near the throttle;
- Give way to boats that are anchored, fishing, or going slowly;
- Always pass oncoming boats to the right (starboard);
- Make sure your navigation lights are operation for night use;
- The red channel marker is the right side of channel when returning from the sea (red, right, return);
- Stay clear of “no wake” zones;
- Be aware of oncoming boats when crossing behind another boat;
- Fly an orange flag when towing a water-skier or raft and keep clear of boat traffic; and
- Go slowly and use a search light at night.
Always keep a mind towards safety when boating. That way, you and your guests can avoid becoming one of the horrific boating accidents that are bound to happen each summer.