MIKE BRAUN Boating rules to stay safe

The Fourth of July weekend will see the busiest boat traffic of the season on most area navigable lakes and rivers.
With that amount of traffic, it is even more important that boat operators follow to the letter the rules of the water. Just dropping your boat in the water and zooming off to fish, ski or cruise doesn't cut it. You have an obligation to those you carry as passengers as well as other boaters to make sure you don't put them in harm's way.
Most of the agencies and organizations that deal with boats and boat safety have lists that offer reminders to boat operators and their passengers on how to keep themselves safe and their craft running in a nonhazardous manner. The following are a few safe boating tips from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and Boat U.S.
Personal flotation devices
The most significant fact about personal flotation devices is that they save lives. It is important for recreational boaters of all levels, from cabin cruisers to kayakers and water skiers to bass anglers to take the time to choose a life jacket they will wear and meets the needs of the activity in which they are participating. Furthermore, in Pennsylvania, all children 12 or younger are required to wear a life jacket when on a boat that is 20 feet or less and all canoes and kayaks. In Ohio, children age 10 or younger are required to wear a PFD when riding in a vessel 18 feet long or less.
Alertness
Look before you go and be aware of any possible waterway hazards such as low-head dams, high water levels and fast moving currents, floating debris such as downed or overhanging trees, and weather conditions. Not being alert is the leading cause of boating accidents.
Alcohol use
Alcohol affects balance, vision, coordination and affects judgment -- all factors that are required to boat safely. It is illegal to operate a watercraft under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Effective Tuesday, persons who operate boats, motor vehicles and other vehicles of transport are considered legally intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.
Education
Training is required for any person born on or after Jan. 1, 1982, who operates a powerboat more than 10 horsepower, and education and training are recommended for all boaters. Boating courses are offered in the area on a regular basis, and there are versions offered online.
Water level and current
Damp weather and heavy rains during the recent spring made water levels and volume in streams and rivers unusually high and dangerously swift. Some waterways remain at higher, less safe levels as well.
Water with a current that seems insignificant can actually produce several tons of force on a capsized jonboat, canoes or kayaks, pinning them against a rock or downed tree.
If you are planning to venture in strong current, make sure it is within your abilities, even more so if the craft is unpowered.
Remember also to always anchor from the bow. A boat anchored this way will ride up and over oncoming waves. A boat anchored from the stern can cause water to rise over the transom and flood or capsize the boat.
More tips
It is also a good idea to make sure that all navigation lights operate, fuel is topped off and battery loads are monitored.
For additional information on safe boating tips, boating education programs and other recreational boating programs and opportunities, visit the following Web sites: www.dnr.state.oh.us/watercraft, www.fish.state.pa.us/or www.BoatUS.com.
braun@vindy.com