GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Memorial Day weekend often marks the start of boating season in Northeast Wisconsin.
“There are a lot of brand new boaters on the water this year. There were last year. There are even more on the water this year,” Coast Guard Auxiliary public affairs officer Kevin Osgood said.
Whether you’re a new boater or an experienced one, experts say it’s important to keep safety in mind.
The Coast Guard and harbor masters say that starts with making sure everyone on board has a life jacket.
“It’s one thing to have them, it’s another thing to wear them. Sure there’s a fine and it’s not inexpensive if you’re not wearing a life jacket or don’t have one with you, but the price you pay if you don’t have one at the moment you need it is much more expensive,” Osgood said.
Osgood tells FOX 11 86% of drownings in Northeast Wisconsin are a result of someone not having a life jacket on. Boaters should also have a designated sober driver.
“Because you want to be able to drive safe. Especially when you consider so many new boaters are on the water, inexperienced boaters on the water, and adding alcohol to that mix just makes things even more dangerous than it already is.”
South Bay Marina harbor master Yogi Ekberg also encourages boaters to watch the weather and to pay attention to their surroundings.
The Coast Guard offers free vessel safety checks to make sure vessels and equipment comply with safety requirements.
For more information about how to schedule a safety check, click here.
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