THE 



CATCH 



Coast Guard, reported 25 1 boat 

 accidents; 35 people were killed. And 

 more boat-related accidents occur in 

 June, July, August and September than 

 in the rest of the months combined. 



"Accidents happen, but almost all 

 of them are preventable," says Lt. 

 Michael Brogdanowicz, hunting and 

 boating safety coordinator for the WRC. 

 "Most fatalities aren't the result of 

 fantastic crashes — somebody simply 

 falls overboard or ends up in the water 

 and drowns." 



Lt. Brogdanowicz recommends 

 wearing a life preserver or personal 

 floatation device (PFD), keeping a sharp 

 lookout and avoiding alcohol to reduce 

 your risk of an accident. PFDs have the 

 greatest impact on your ability to 

 survive a boating crisis, and operator 

 inattention is the number one cause of 

 accidents, says Brogdanowicz. PFDs 

 are now required when riding personal 

 watercraft such as Jet Skis and Sea 

 Doos. 



And it may be tempting to drink on 

 board your boat — many people's idea 

 of a romantic cruise involves a glass of 

 wine or a mug of beer at sunset — but 

 alcohol mixes no better with seagoing 

 vessels than with cars, and similar 

 "drunk driving" laws apply. Even if the 

 boat operator does not drink, intoxicated 



people can prove dangerous to them- 

 selves or to the skipper. Alcohol use is 

 the second leading cause of fatal 

 accidents on the water. 



Fishers and boaters should also 

 remember that June 1 marks the 

 beginning of hurricane season every 

 year — and it isn't over until Nov. 30. 

 During summer, it's especially impor- 

 tant to keep an eye on the weather. 

 Don't go out unless you are sure your 

 boat can handle the wind and wave 

 conditions predicted. 



Once you are on the water, watch 

 the clouds and the sea for danger signs. 

 Rip tides can create high waves capable 

 of swamping a boat, and fog or heavy 

 rain can decrease visibility. The 

 National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Administration's Weather Radio reports 

 are a must for safety-conscious boaters. 



If you get caught in a thunderstorm, 

 stay below decks if possible. Lightning 

 and strong, gusty winds make for 

 unpredictable and dangerous conditions. 



Of course, hurricanes are many 

 steps above your average summer 

 thundershower. Every year. North 

 Carolina Sea Grant fisheries agent Jim 

 Bahen helps Wilmington residents get 

 their boats out of the water when 

 hurricanes threaten. "The problem is, 

 nobody thinks about it until it's too 



late," he says. "Once the weather service 

 says a hurricane might swing in toward 

 North Carolina, you've got a two-day 

 window" in which to secure property. 



And with so many new residents 

 along the coast, Bahen says, many don't 

 know what to expect when a hurricane 

 hits. "We've got so many new people 

 coming to the coast and buying boats — 

 if they're from Topeka, Kan., or Boone, 

 N.C., they don't know what goes on 

 down here." 



Bahen recommends taking care of 

 your boat as early as possible when a 

 hurricane is predicted. If you have a 

 small craft, pull it out of the water and 

 take it to high ground. "The best thing is 

 to take a small boat off the trailer and fill 

 it full of water," Bahen says. "Try to get 

 it away from trees." 



For larger boats, search out a 

 "hurricane hole" that is protected from 

 wind and strong waves. Anchoring in 

 the lee of an island or in an enclosed, 

 inland marina may help protect your 

 vessel. Putting out extra anchors can 

 also keep your boat from swinging 

 dangerously or breaking loose and 

 damaging others' property. 



Brogdanowicz says boaters should 

 stay clear of inlets in heavy weather and 

 search out a sheltered spot with few 

 structures or other boats around. You 

 can't anticipate what will happen in a 

 hurricane, he says. "You just don't take 

 chances." 



So pack your PFD along with your 

 fishing poles this summer, and keep an 

 eye on the weather. The North Carolina 

 Sea Grant staff wishes you happy sails. 



Free Boating Publications 

 from North Carolina Sea 

 Grant 



• Hurricane Preparedness 

 Poster for Boaters describes how to 

 prepare small or large recreational boats 

 for an impending hurricane. UNC-SG- 

 86-08; poster. 



Continued 



COASTWATCH 27 



