News
NOT ALL BOATNG ACCIDENTS HAPPEN ON THE WATER
Lake Norman, NC - Some boating accidents
occur while transiting to and from the water and quite frequently
on the launch ramp. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary says “a
successful boating outing begins when you leave home and ends
when you safely return home.” Since the majority of
recreational boats in the United States are transported to
and from the water it is important that boaters take as much
care transporting their boat, whether it be a power boat,
sailboat, paddle craft or personal water craft as they do
operating their boat on the water.
When it comes to trailered boats nine out of ten trailering
malfunctions and accidents can be directly traced back to
a failure to dedicate some time to the most basic preventative
maintenance. Wheel bearings, suspension parts, lights, and
a host of other components reacquire constant attention, to
help insure any trailering trip smooth and hassle free. Special
attention to the tow vehicle’s hitch is a good idea,
as that is the only link between the tow vehicle and trailer.
Also consider the fact that one needs a special license and
classification to drive things like motorcycles, school busses
and vehicles with air brakes like semi-trailer trucks, gravel
trucks, etc. But just about anyone can go out and buy a $30,000
boat and trailer, attach it to his/her car… and simply
drive away. No special training is required beforehand and
no special license classification is needed. Anyone who has
ever hauled a boat around for a number of years knows that
it may not be too difficult to drive in a straight line at
low speeds. But when it comes to things like driving at highway
speeds, passing other vehicles, high winds, backing up, etc…
the task becomes much more difficult than one might think.
The U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety offers safety
tips for trailering, pre-launching preparations, launching,
retrieval and boat storing at http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/metlife_archived_9-21-2007/boat_trailer.htm.
For more potentially life-saving information along with how
to take a boating safety course or get a free vessel safety
check from the Coast Guard Auxiliary visit http://www.uscgboating.org/.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component
of the United States Coast Guard. Created by an Act of Congress
in 1939, the Auxiliary directly supports the Coast Guard in
all missions, except military and direct law enforcement actions.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is an integral part of the United
States Coast Guard. For more information visit www.cgaux.org
if you are ready to join visit classes@cgadavidson.org.
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[Posted: 11 Dec 2008. Source: FSO-CS 26-03] |
