Captain's Corner

  Water recreational activities are a big deal in Missouri. Residents and visitors alike come to Missouri’s lakes and rivers to swim, boat, ski, fish, and paddle.   The emphasis, of course, is on fun and enjoyment. However, emphasis should also be placed on safety. No one wants their vacation sadly interrupted by a drowning, especially if it involves a child.   Life jackets can (obviously) help save lives. So, what are lifejackets? Which one is right for you? Missouri (and the Federal Government, through the Coast Guard) have regulations regarding use of lifejackets, or more generally, personal flotation devices, or PFDs.   The following is a summary of applicable PFD Regulations: -           In Missouri, all vessels 16 feet or longer must carry on-board at least one US Coast Guard (USCG)-approved wearable lifejacket (PFD) for each person on board or being towed. Vessels less than 16 feet in length must carry one wearable or throwable device for each person on board or being to

  Warmer weather is around the corner. Soon the open water will be calling.    A new boating season is upon us. Many of us have purchased a new boat or are thinking about upgrading to a bigger boat.   Or change in style, type of boat.   Some may be looking at more horsepower adding additional features such as joystick controls, radar, live scope etc. Buy new a boat, or  buy a used boat ? That’s a tough call for a  boat buyer , especially a first timer. There’s no right or wrong answer. It all depends on you: your tastes, your budget, and your mechanical aptitude. but you decide. Here's some factors to consider... Benefits Buying a Pre-Owned Boat With a used boat, you get more boat for fewer dollars, lower cost per year of ownership, and less on the line if you decide a different style or size boat would better serve you. It sounds funny, but there’s peace of mind in knowing you’re not going to put the first scratch or ding in the boat. Any initial bu

  Believe it or not 69 days or Monday , 20th March 2023 , Spring will be here.    That means to get ready for another season of water activities.   You may be ready but is your boat, jet Ski, and other water activities related Items ready? If you are like many people, you winterize the boat or jet ski, put away the life jackets and water toys after the summer season has ended, and look forward to the spring hoping into the boat or jet ski and starting it up and away we go, right!..... maybe not. Before your boat hits the water though, ensure your boat Jet Ski is ready. Preparing for spring ensures proper performance and safety. These tips for preparing for spring will give you peace of mind and get you on the water in no time.   1.       Check that the boat registration is current and onboard. You need to have this available if a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) officer asks to see it. 2.       Invest in boat towing insurance. You’ll be glad you did if an emergency arise

  On November 26, two lives were lost at Lake of the Ozarks.   Both were visitors, both drowned. The report indicated that one swimmer began to struggle and went under and did not resurface.   His friend dove into the water to his friend and he also did not resurface.     Neither individual was wearing a life jacket. This is a grim reminder, that water activities when the water temperature is low will greatly decrease the chances of survival.   Typically, people in temperate climates don't consider themselves at risk from hypothermia in the water, but hypothermia can occur in any water temperature  below 70°F . It was noted on the day of the drowning the water temperature was 54 degrees F.   To some 54 degrees F may seem warm.   However, at this temperature your body will succumb to hypothermia, death will follow if rescue does not come quickly. At a water temperature of 32.5 to 40 degrees, death may occur in 30 - 90 minutes. At a water temperature of 40 to 50 degrees, death

Fall is finally upon us and while you may be sad to see the summer boating season go, boating in the fall has many advantages! Fewer people are on the water and temperatures are a bit cooler, giving you the opportunity to have a peaceful trip out on the waters that you wouldn’t frequently get to experience during the prime summer boating months. Continue reading below to learn some advantages of fall boating and some tips for boating this season as well! The fall season offers many of the same advantages to boaters as spring does. Less congested waterways, boat ramps, and fuel docks, and so on. But boating into the fall offers other benefits of its own. Extended Quality Boating Time By continuing to boat into the fall, you get more weeks or even months of quality boating time. You don’t have to feel compelled to take your boat out every weekend like during the summer months to get the most out of it, making for a more relaxed boating season. Boating into fall also means enjoying trips

  While motorists are constantly warned against the dangers of distracted driving, it turns out that boaters are also in need of a reminder. According to statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard,  operator inattention  was the number one reason for boating accidents. Distracted boat drivers were the cause of over 500 incidents, making it an important topic for discussion. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators reported that 22-24 percent of boating accidents were due to improper lookout and operator inattention combined. Between 9 and 14 percent of fatalities related to boating were also caused by distraction. Common causes of boating accidents include many different types of distractions. Electronic distraction can include a phone or spotlight but can also mean the driver was attempting to use a radio, radar or navigation device. Objects on the boat, such as electronics, can also cause a lighting glare that prevents drivers from being able to see well. Lighting

LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. -- An Illinois man is dead after being thrown overboard from a Cigarette boat at the 8-Mile Marker.  According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Timothy R. Ridens, 41, of Staunton, Ill., was driving the 1994 Cigarette  "too fast for conditions"  at 6:45 p.m., Friday, July 29, when the vessel hit a wake, ejecting Ridens and injuring multiple occupants.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.  Safe boating is the aim of all boaters and comes from education/training and experience. This excerpt from a recent Boating Statistics report, provided by the United States Coast Guard, is presented in the interest of safety by helping boaters learn from the experience of others.  FATALITY RATE Historically, one indicator of safety in recreational boating is the fatality rate, e.g., the number of reported fatalities as compared to the number of registered recreational boats.  the Coast Guard counted 5,265 accidents that involved 767 deaths, 3,191 injurie