MIKE BRAUN Safety is boating priority

Area lakes and rivers should be starting to get busy as the weather continues to warm and more and more people launch their preferred watercraft.
During the busier days for boating this year, there will likely be nearly half a million boats of all types sailing, motoring and paddling along Ohio's rivers and lakes, according to state-compiled numbers on licensed craft.
To promote safety for boaters in Ohio and across the United States, the May 22-28 week leading up to the official start of boating season -- Memorial Day weekend -- has been designated as National Safe Boating week.
Several local, state and national organizations including the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadron, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Boating, Army Corps of Engineers and the American Red Cross promote safe boating and boating experience in general.
Safety is an important aspect of boating with the number of watercraft that ply Ohio's waterways. In 2003, Ohio had 418,295 registered watercraft, the eighth-largest number of registrations nationally.
Free vessel check
One of the easiest to get as well as beneficial of the offers provided Ohio boaters is the free vessel safety check planned during May.
The Division of Watercraft is sponsoring the safety checks as part of a new education campaign by the ODNR division, its statewide boating partners and the U.S. Coast Guard called & quot;You're In Command. & quot;
The free inspections will be carried out at specific sites (see the list at right) by the Division of Watercraft, U.S. Power Squadrons, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and local marine patrols.
Those who get the inspections will also be given a free watertight key chain -- perfect for carrying a boat registration.
Ohio is in the second full year of participation in a nationwide vessel safety check program, allowing inspected boats to display a special decal.
So, just what happens when you get a boat inspection?
A boat safety inspector provides a completed written inspection form allowing boat operators to make recommended improvements; there are no citations involved.
Inspectors will go over what's required on your boat -- title, registration and number, fire extinguisher, life vests, signals and other items.
As a bonus, a number of insurance carriers will give boaters a discount for insured boats that pass an approve watercraft safety inspection.
Basic safety course
In addition to a free vessel check, those who expect to operate their watercraft knowledgeably should know that they should take a basic boat safety course.
These courses, now mandatory for those born after Jan. 1, 1982, are held several times a year by local chapters of the U.S. Power Squadron and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and cover all aspects of boating operation from trailering to boating signage and life jacket usage.
Watch the outdoors page's listing of coming events, What's Doing?, for one of the regularly scheduled basic safety courses. Or you can call local Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla members Ray Calzo, (330) 799-8744; Jerry Crowe, (330) 534-1123; George Davis, (330) 337-7742; or Francis Audia, (724) 658-0980. The Mosquito Lake Power Squadron can be reached at (330) 856-6783.
For more information on boating and safety, there are several Web sites to check out including www.dnr.state.oh.us/watercraft/, www.SafeBoatingCampaign.com and www.BoatUS.com/.
braun@vindy.com