Hands UP, Don’t Run Me Over, I’m In The Water!

Lake Safety Committee
By: Bruce C. Bower

The title of this article is to draw your attention to what you should preach to your family and guests when they are in the water after being towed. As soon possible, they should put their hands up, over their heads, to draw attention of their presence to other boaters. If they have just fallen out of their skis, hold the ski or skis up vertically. Wave their arms so show where they are, not necessarily for you, but to any other boaters coming your way. One human head bobbing in the water is difficult to see, especially when there is a choppy surface. AND, get that flag up ASAP!

Too many people are still not using the flag correctly. I still see boats with what looks as though there is a suction cup sticking the flag to the windshield. Simple rule, PUT THE FLAG UP WHEN SOMEONE IS IN THE WATER. This doesn’t mean that there are kids in the water, but they are ON A TUBE. It doesn’t mean that someone is up ON a wakeboard. Wait till they fall off into the lake, then put up the flag.

The Boat Patrol asked me to inform everyone to mark or paint your lot number on all your water toys, floats, skis, paddle boards, paddles, tubes, trampolines, and anything else that you want back if it gets lost. The Patrol finds things floating in the lake and wants a way to get the equipment back to the owners.

Another topic that the Boat Patrol brought up was that the people letting youngsters use their jetskis are NOT following State laws of age of operation. It appears that there are a bunch of un-informed people that think that if they are 21 or over, they can drive anything on water. What do we have to do to tell you that if you were born on or after Jan 1, 1982 you need a STATE LICENSE to operate a water craft? And you must be 16 with a license to drive a jetski. It’s stated in the rules you are given with your boat tags. Then you give your signature that you have read and will follow the rules. How about it? I’m going to request that ODNR come to our lake and specifically check licenses on ALL jet drivers. No wonder we see absurd stunts from the jet people.
I’m beginning to think that maybe we should make it imperative that boat owners take mandatory 2 hour course every 3 or 4 years before getting a tag. Or how about taking a 10 question test before you get a tag, get 2 wrong, no tag? There has to be something done differently until we can get uniformed police to pass out tickets for not following the laws and rules. I’ll be bringing up this FORCED education to the Board soon.

I can’t close without mentioning the 75 foot no-wake zone, try and picture 4 lengths of your boat from the shoreline, this will be close enough. There must some sort of magnetic force that lures people in to around 40 feet or so!

As always, call me with your thoughts or if you want to holler back at 216.906.2301 cell

Think SAFETY
Bower out.
440.563.4108 lake

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