GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Before you take the boat out for the first time this season, make sure you have everything on board that needs to be there.
Saturday is the start of National Safe Boating Week and the Coast Guard Auxiliary of Green Bay is volunteering their time to make sure that you’re equipped in case something goes wrong.
“We’re going to be having a vessel safety exam blitz,” says Kevin Osgood, Public Affairs Officer with the Coast Guard Auxiliary of Green Bay. “We”ll have, at this point, probably ten vessel examiners present along the boat launch.”
The event runs from 11:00 a.m. until 3 p.m. Saturday morning at the Jack Day Environmental Education building, which is on the north side of the Metro Boat Launch.
The original location was set for Green Bay’s Coast Guard Station, but high waters covering the pedestrian entrance forced it to move.
Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich will speak at the event at 11:30 a.m.
The purpose of the event is to spread safety information, not to get anyone in trouble.
“It’s a free inspection, if you’re missing something there’s no citation,” he says. “But, it’s an inspection that can give you the information that you need to know to before you get out on the water to keep your family safe.”
According to Osgood, a major thing they often end up correcting boaters on is the usage of life jackets and specifically where they need to be.
“Not that people don’t have them,” explains Osgood. “But, they don’t have them stowed properly.”
Proper stowage is not what’s most convenient, but rather what is most efficient in case of an emergency.
“If they are buckled up or zipped up in a bag that’s not acceptable,” says Osgood. “They need to be readily accessible.”
The term “readily accessible” means that they should be within one step from every individual on the vessel, according to officials.
Even if you’re fairly certain that you have everything properly placed throughout your vessel, it’s a quick opportunity to gain some peace of mind for the entire boating season.
“If you find yourself in a troublesome situation on the water you’ll have what you need,” he explains. “Or if you get boarded by the Coast Guard, you’ll have the confidence to know that you have everything on your boat that you need to have.”
Osgood adds that the Coast Guard Auxiliary hosts boating safety courses throughout the season and he strongly encourages anyone to attend, even if they have attended some sort of course in the past.
Safety course events will be posted on the Green Bay Auxiliary’s Facebook page.
