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We’ve had some windy days lately, and it reminds me how a heavy, unpredictable wind can ruin a boater’s day.
Don’t go out on larger bodies of water, where the waves could get to big for your craft to handle and you could capsize, or be blown away from shore.
Always make sure there are enough of the right size and numbers of life-jackets onboard for all passengers, and follow all the rules of boating safety. As a boater myself, I’ve seen some horrendous boaters over the past few years, driving like maniacs. I think there ought to have been hands on testing, on an actual vessel, to get my boating license. I’ve asked for years from Boatsmart Canada, why don’t they have lessons on various lakes to refresh our techniques every season?
You cannot imagine just how bad some of these boaters are, I’m actually surprised there aren’t more accidents. For safety, the Ministry of Transport owes it to us to make it harder to get a boating license, make it an actual challenge, similar to what you have to go through to getting a drivers license.
Also, seeing boaters zoom up and down the lake at night, at high speed, it scares me. They could run right over someone in a smaller boat. Boats that are going to be used at night should have a powerful headlight, same as on a car. And stay sober while boating.
Safety is No. 1, always. Each year we see boating tragedies especially in the Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough area, let’s try and do our part and discuss ways to prevent them.
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