People ask, “Won’t this just kill the boating industry?”

Older folks who have had boats for decades argue they don’t need such a course. Maybe they do.

Recreational boating is a multi-billion-dollar-a-year industry enjoyed by visitors and residents. In 2023, there were 431,474 registered boating vessels in New York. Of these, 1,198 were commercial, 424,061 were recreational. In 2023, New York had 18 reported fatalities, a decrease of 10 fatalities compared to the year before. Many of the fatalities, 50%, were individuals between 41 and 60-plus years old. The phase-in of Brianna’s Law culminates this year, and all ages are required to take the Safe Boating Course.

From 2010-23, New York averaged 23 boating fatalities per year. The leading cause of boating incidents and fatalities on the water was and is drowning. From 1970 to 1990, there were 62 deaths per year. Why did we get better? The Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971 increased boat manufacturer safety standards and increased boater education, which included mandatory life jacket rules, which are the most significant factors. Additionally, legislation was passed to strengthen BWI laws and changed the perception of drinking alcohol on the water. Add that all occupants in boats under 21 feet operated between Nov. 1 and May 1 must wear a life jacket, and more folks were saved. Hypothermia kills.

Photo courtesy of Forrest Fisher The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators boater safety course teaches such safety practices as how to anchor, signal other boats and how to stay safe on the water.

Boats manufactured after 2020 under 26 feet must be equipped with a cut-off switch — if the operator is tossed out of the boat, the engine stops. There are also new rules for fire extinguishers. Hence, one reason for the latest safety course is to become educated about all the laws of the boating road.

In Chautauqua County in 2023, there were 6,434 boats registered in total, with 2,022 boats under 16 feet and 4,024 boats 16-25 feet in length, accounting for the largest number of registered vessels. Erie County had 7,729 boats under 16 feet, with 12,440 between 16 and 25 feet.

The point is that the waterways are more crowded now than ever. With law enforcement efforts, there were 771 vessel inspections with 358 citations written for Chautauqua County from 2022 records. There were only 21 vessel inspections in Erie County with 119 citations. The comparative numbers seem odd, but the data is from official reports noted by the NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department for 2023.

Bottom line?

If you have a boat, you need the Boating Safety Card. Local courses are offered, but the BoatUS Foundation offers a free Online Boater Safety Course approved by the state of New York to meet mandatory education requirements for all boaters required to complete a NASBLA-approved boating safety course.

I signed up, and learning it all takes some focus and thinking. This well-done educational course took me under six hours over three days (you can sign on and sign off as time allows in your schedule. There are six lessons with 25 to 60 slides each, and each lesson contains a 10-question quiz. After completing all the lessons, there is a 60-question final exam where you must attain a score of 80 or more. I scored 93 (four incorrect) and was surprised at the answers to the questions that I missed. The answers are not all just from what you think you know from running a boat for 70 years or more. Yes, we all need to take the course for good reasons. I learned a lot. We all will, and the waterways will be safer. That’s the plan.

Gotta love the outdoors.

CALENDAR

April 5: King of Spring Perch Tournament, Cayuga Lake, heaviest perch, $100 team registration, Info: Drake at Doc’s Tackle, 585-229-2277, email: docdavid@229bass.com.

April 6: NYS Hunter Education, Evans Rod/Gun, Angola, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., register online at https://dec.ny.gov/things-to-do/hunting/hunter-education.

April 9-10: NYS Hunter Education, Bear Lake Rod & Gun, 4391 Cassadaga-Stockton Road, Stockton, 5:30-9:30 p.m. each night, register https://www.register-ed.com/events/view/226045. Info NYSDEC: 585-226-5463.

April 12: Erie County Federation of Sportsmen, Annual Banquet, $45, Kloc’s Grove, 1245 Seneca Creek Road, West Seneca. Info: 716-674-5944.

April 12: Niagara Musky Awards Banquet, Pearl Street Grill, $70, Contact Scott McKee, 716-225-3816, email: scotthenrymckee@yahoo.com.

April 12: WNY Walleye, monthly meeting, 9 a.m., Knights of Columbus Hamburg.

NOTE: Send Calendar info or related outdoor news to forrestfisher35@yahoo.com.