National Safe Boating Week, May 18-24, 2024

Congratulations if you are one of the fortunate boaters who ply the beautiful waters of the Maine Coast. Those of us who share that privilege with local boaters and boaters “from away” understand that along with the scenic richness of our local waters come pitfalls and hazards that can regularly test our seamanship and judgment. Many boaters “from away,” as well as more than a few local folks, see the clear blue skies and deep blue waters and the ubiquitous “What to Do” guides and think that’s the standard-issue summer boating day.

What they don’t see and are often unaware of, are the less mentioned, but important, facets of boating the area’s coast. Not many grasp the reality of our always dangerously cold waters or enticingly sunny afternoons that can, in a very few minutes, go from “visibility: unlimited” to visibility measured in a few yards. The latter being an experience that even seasoned local boaters take seriously as an eerily disorienting experience that morphs what was a fun day out into an exercise in old school navigation requiring concentration and discipline. And do not think an instrument panel full of GPS’s and radar screens will take the knot out of your stomach if you are not already adept in the use of those instruments. Try as we might, we cannot change the weather or the characteristics of the local waters, but we can change our ability to cope with the everyday challenges that arise and be ready to face them calmly and confidently. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is America’s premier boating safety organization; local flotillas regularly offer boater education classes that cover areas such as paddle craft safety, general boating safety, and navigation. May 18-24 is National Safe Boating Week and a great opportunity to take advantage of boating safety resources available throughout the year.

Topping the list as the most popular events are C.G. Auxiliary “Vessel Safety Checks (VSC’s),” often held at marinas or boat launching facilities. A C.G. Auxiliary VSC is a free service provided by Auxiliary volunteers that
checks and inspects the state and federally required safety items that must be carried on your vessel. Visual Distress Signals (think flares), life jackets, and fire extinguishers, if the boat is powered, are all required items that must be carried in accordance with rules defined by vessel type, size, and passenger carrying capacity. It is not good sense that these items should be aboard and in good condition, non-compliance with these equipment requirements can result in hefty fines or an order to “return directly to the dock, NOW”… instruction from a state marine patrol or local law enforcement officer.

Spending time on our local waters is an experience to be savored and saved as what one hopes will be nothing but pleasant memories. To help ensure that your local boating stories have only happy endings, preparing both yourself and your vessel to achieve that goal doesn’t take a lot of time or money. Getting a Vessel Safety Check for your boat along with some basic boating skills training for yourself (and maybe those who boat with you), is a great way to begin a new season.

For information on how to accomplish both those goals, contact your nearest C. G. Auxiliary Flotilla. In Knox and Waldo counties contact Penobscot Bay Flotilla, penbayflotilla@gmail.com or auxflotilla0105@gmail.com. You will be contacting trained and knowledgeable local boaters who will make completing your seasonal pre-underway checklist a “one stop shopping” experience. And while you are getting that checklist completed, ask the Auxiliary members there about boating safety and seamanship courses being offered in the area.

Paul Ljunggren
Vice Flotilla Commander
US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Penobscot Bay Flotilla