Boat responsibly this Labor Day weekend

NEW YORK — Labor Day weekend for many boaters and paddlers signals the end of the summer boating season. It is also one of the busiest boating weekends of the year. The U.S. Coast Guard, along with the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons and state boating agencies from New Jersey to Maine are working together to stress the importance of recreational boating and paddling safety.

Coast Guard crews will be patrolling, conducting safety checks, watching for people Boating Under the Influence (BUI) and operating in an unsafe manner.

Boaters and paddlers should:

*   Always wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket.
*   Never boat under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
*   Be aware of weather and water conditions.
*   File a float plan to let others know where you are going. An example of a float plan can be found at http://www.floatplancentral.org/.
*   Have a VHF radio since cell phone services are unreliable offshore.
*   Be cautious - do not exceed your ability to handle your vessel, and be constantly aware of other vessels.
*   Observe safety and security zones while on the water.

According to Walt Taylor, the First Coast Guard District's Recreational Boating Safety Specialist, "Boaters and paddlers need to be particularly careful this weekend due to recent floodwaters created from Hurricane Irene. The best advice is not to go out on rivers or other waters affected by the flood. There are more dangers than most people can imagine. Even when floodwater recedes, it's tempting to think the danger is past. Floodwaters move much faster; may be contaminated with fuel, sewage, or other hazardous waste; and be littered with all kinds of surface and underwater debris that can damage vessels and create impassable obstacles."

Boaters and paddlers should check water conditions at the U.S. Geological Survey Real-Time Water Data website at http://water.usgs.gov/realtime.html and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Hydrologic Information Center - River Stages website at http://www.nws.noaa.gov/oh/hic/current/river_flooding/Stages.htm.

For many, the boating season is now gearing down and Taylor strongly recommends that all boaters utilize the off-season to take a recreational boating safety course. Courses are offered either through their respective state, with the Coast Guard Auxiliary or the U.S. Power Squadrons, both of which can be accessed through http://uscgaux.org or http://usps.org. Additional course information is available through the BOAT/U.S. Foundation at 1-800-336-BOAT.

For additional boating safety tips, and the recently released Recreational Boating Statistics 2010, boaters can access the Coast Guard's Boating Safety Web site at www.uscgboating.org.

###

Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.