A recent pontoon boat rental at Lake of Ozarks has left me longing for more lake days. Pulling a boat into a cove, anchoring off, and spending the heat of the day floating around in the water with a group of friends is a top option for spending summer days outside. We swam, cruised around, pulled into a restaurant for food, and spent the afternoon relaxing. As much fun as we had, it was also clear danger does exist on the water. If you’re going out on a boat, be sure to stay safe and use caution.
The Midwest is home to countless lakes and rivers perfect for a relaxing day of fun in the sun on the water. Everyone wants you to enjoy your time on the water, including law enforcement. I have never spoken with a officer of the law who didn’t want people to have a good time. They just want you to do so in a safe manner while following the rules, so you and the people around you have the greatest likelihood of avoiding any kind of accident. Expect officers to be patrolling the reservoirs and rivers making sure users are following the law.
There are many laws that come with being a responsible boater. One of the most important is not operating a motorboat while intoxicated. It’s easy to drink too much on a hot summer day when you’re out having fun and swimming without realizing you’ve consumed more than the legal limit. If you plan on drinking, make sure there is someone with legally capable of operating the watercraft who isn’t drinking that is. Otherwise, your fun day outside could turn into a horrible night in jail.
Aside from not operating a motorboat under the influence of alcohol, there are other important laws you must follow on waterways. Obey marker buoys and idle zone restriction areas, use navigational lights and anchor lights between sunset and sunrise, and obey the speed limits.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there were 17 boating fatalities and 77 injuries from recreational boating crashes. This was a decrease from 2021, which saw 28 fatalities. A number of these fatalities were the result of drowning. A life jacket would have saved some of these unfortunate folks. With a little care and caution, we could see a greatly reduced number of boating related fatalities. Reducing this number would be easy if more boaters would simply wear a life jacket.
Accidents on the water usually happen fast. Leaving no time to reach for and put on a life jacket that is likely stowed away under a seat. To be safe, you need to be wearing your life jacket, especially when the watercraft is moving. If you have children in your boat, consider keeping a life jacket on them at all times. Another important rule of thumb is to never pull someone behind your boat without having a spotter. You always need to keep a pair of eyes on the person being towed.
In Missouri, anyone born after January 1, 1984 must have a Boater Education Card to legally operate a boat. The state has resources to help you be a safer boater. The Missouri Boating Guide is available online at boat-ed.com/missouri/handbook. Hard copies are available at most marinas. Check with your state to see if a boaters license is required.
From Lake of the Ozarks to the Mississippi River to Lake Monroe and the Great Lakes, the Midwest is blessed with boating opportunities. Undoubtedly, there is a lake or river near you. Take advantage of these wonderful waters. Doing so is a benefit of living in the Heartland. Just make sure you take the proper precautions and operate your watercraft safely while obeying the law.
See you down the trail…
Brandon Butler
driftwoodoutdoors@gmail.com
Pic: Spending a summer day on the water is fun and enjoyable, as long as safety is first and foremost.
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