When the weather gets hot, many people think about swimming from their boat. Nothing beats the heat like dropping the anchor and jumping overboard.
* However, swimming from a boat is different from swimming in a pool or at the beach. Here are a few rules to follow to insure everyone's safety in the water.
* Enter the water gradually. Use your swim ladder. Many people have been injured by jumping into shallow water or a rocky area.
* Swim platforms are generally made of fiberglass which can be very slippery when wet. Be careful and hold on as you descend into the water.
* Swim with a life jacket, put a swim ring with polypropylene line (it floats) into the water and stay near the boat as a person is difficult to spot in the water from another boat.
* If the weather changes get out of the water!
* Be careful if there is a strong current. Hold onto a line to stay near the boat.
* Never put the engine in gear while someone is in the water.
* Do not swim if you have been drinking. Over 50 percent of all drownings involve alcohol.
* Do not swim with the boat's generator on. Many incidents of carbon monoxide poisoning have been reported from swimming with the generator on.
* Do not swim at the dock as the AC shore power and the docks power may leak electricity into the water and cause electric shock.
Swimming from the boat is great fun. Just be careful and use common sense.
WATER SKIING RULES
Waterskiing is defined as towing a rider on skis or in a tube. The rules are the same. These rules also apply to a powerboat or a PWC (personal watercraft or jet ski) .
1 - Have an observer (10 years or older) on board (if using PWC it must be rated for 3 people).
2 - Activity is allowed from sunrise to sunset.
3 - All tubers or skiers must be wearing a USCG approved PFD (Personal Flotation Device).
4 - Keep at least 200 feet from from docks, piers, bridges or persons in the water.
5 - Keep 100 feet from other boats, navigation aids and the shore.
6 - Towlines should be between 50 and 75 feet in length
7 - In New Jersey waters (We boat in both states) you must display a signal pennant, orange in color and not less than 12 inches in size, 4 feet above the highest structure on the boat while waterskiing or tubing.
Waterskiing and tubing are fun activities. Just follow these simple rules and stay safe.
If you have any suggestions, questions or topics you would like covered in this column write me at "Boating Safely" in care of the Staten Island Advance, 950 Fingerboard Road, Staten Island, New York 10305. My E-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.org.