Boating safety expert shares tips ahead of busy summer weekend on the water
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — With warm weather and Father’s Day weekend bringing more boaters onto area waterways, boating safety advocates are encouraging captains and passengers alike to take extra precautions before heading out.
Chris Juall, safety instructor with The Qualified Captain, sat down with WWAY on Friday morning to discuss some of the most common and dangerous boating behaviors he sees.
One of the biggest concerns, Juall said, is “bow riding” — when passengers sit on the front of a boat with their legs hanging over the edge while the vessel is underway.
“It seems harmless,” Juall said. “The problem is that it doesn’t take much for someone to fall into the water, and then the boat can run them over in a portion of a second.”
According to Juall, passengers who fall from the bow are at serious risk of being struck by the propeller, often resulting in catastrophic injuries.
Speed is another major factor in boating accidents.
“There is no set speed limit in many situations,” Juall explained. “You always have to operate at a safe speed for the conditions.”
He pointed to a crash involving a boat traveling 81 miles per hour that lost control, spun sideways and ultimately cracked in half.
Juall also stressed the importance of carrying proper safety equipment. One item he recommends for all boaters, especially those heading offshore, is a Personal Locator Beacon, or PLB.
The handheld emergency device allows users to send their location directly to rescue crews, including the U.S. Coast Guard, with the push of a button.
“It’s a great safety thing to have,” Juall said. “If you need help, it tells the Coast Guard where you are so they can come rescue you.”
As boating traffic increases across southeastern North Carolina this summer, safety experts encourage boaters to wear life jackets, avoid risky behavior, maintain safe speeds and ensure they have the proper emergency equipment on board.
