By Patrick Massey
The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is organizing a boater’s education course in Mena this June to help ensure everyone’s safety on the water as the busy summer season approaches.
The free, instructor-led course will be held at the Mena Library on Saturday, June 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The library is located at 410 Eighth St. in Mena. The course will take place in the community room. Chad B. Lowe, III is the organizer.
The COVID-19 pandemic, and orders from health care officials to socially distance from others to limit spread of the virus, sent many people socially distancing on the lakes of Arkansas four years ago. Boating use increased during the summer of 2020 and has remained higher than pre-2020 numbers; it’s no coincidence that boating accidents have been on the uptick since more people took up boating.
During National Safe Boating Week, May 18 through May 24, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission emphasized — not only that week but through the summer — safe boating by users of the water resources around The Natural State, and a strong emphasis will be on boater education, according to Stephanie Weatherington, the AGFC’s boating law administrator.
The first law that needs heeding is wearing a life jacket and the boat operator making sure he or she has enough life jackets on board, including life jackets that are the proper size for boat passengers.
National Safe Boating Week prompts more media pushes nationally for boaters and boat riders to be more aware.
Anyone born before Jan. 1, 1986, isn’t required to have a boater education card. Anyone born on or after that day, and of legal age to operate a motorboat or sailboat, must have completed an approved AGFC Boating Education Course and carry proof while operating a motorboat or sailboat on Arkansas water.
There are two online methods to taking a boater education course: The Original Arkansas Boater Education Course is $34.95 and available at https://www.boat-ed.com/arkansas/.
A more “gamer” style course is available online, for $49.50, at https://www.ilearntoboat.com/arkansas/.
Find more scheduled classes and sign up here: https://register-ed.com/programs/arkansas/38-arkansas-boater-education-classroom/.
Along with taking a boating safety course, wearing a life jacket, and avoiding alcohol while operating a boat, the National Safe Boating Council recommends these tips for boaters:
- Check equipment. Schedule a free vessel safety check with local U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons to make sure all essential equipment is present, working and in good condition.
- Make a float plan. Always let someone on shore know the trip itinerary, including operator and passenger information, boat type and registration, and communication equipment on board before you leave the dock.
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Use an engine cut-off switch – it’s the law. An engine cut-off switch is a proven safety device to stop a powerboat engine should the operator unexpectedly fall overboard.
Watch the weather. Always check the forecast before departing on the water and frequently during the excursion. - Know what’s going on around you at all times. Nearly a quarter of all reported boating incidents in 2022 were caused by operator inattention or improper lookout.
- Know where you’re going and travel at safe speeds. Be familiar with the area, local boating speed zones, and always travel at a safe speed.
- Keep in touch. Have more than one communication device that works when wet. VHF radios, emergency locator beacons, satellite phones, and cell phones can all be important devices in an emergency.
The National Safe Boating Campaign is produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund and administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The campaign offers a variety of free and paid resources to support local boating safety education efforts. Learn more at www.safeboatingcampaign.com.
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