Captain's Corner

  Nothing better than a day on the water with friends celebrating a special event, or with a family on a site seeing tour; or that once in a life time fishing expedition.     The term “charter” or charter boat is often misused. A charter in the maritime realm is a legal term going back to the days of sail. Today, a chartered vessel is like a rented vessel where an individual assumes responsibilities as its owner, similar to when you rent a car or a houseboat. A written agreement is signed whereupon the renter (charterer) takes on ownership responsibilities from the vessel’s true owner. The charterer is responsible for all materials to operate it (the crew, insurance, fuel, stores, etc.) There are different types of charters ;   Bareboat charter, Commercial charter, OUPV charter. OUPV  or  Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel or commonly know as a 6 pack, this is a mariners United States Coast Guard (USCG)   credential  This...

      Lake of the Ozarks is home to many fishermen and women.   Many are  semi professional,  and professional. but the majority are hobbyist, vacationers, with a mix that enter local tournaments such as the Big Bash Bass, Surkdyke Yamaha Go Fish Crappie  and many others. Lake of the Ozarks, Table Rock Lake  and other lakes in Missouri have fishing tournaments year round, day and night. Recently, myself and two friends were fishing in one of many tournaments,  the weather conditions was partly cloudy, winds were starting to increase 5 -15 miles per hour. coupled with other boats in the area. our boat was being rocked.  The boat it self has a wide beam and is very stable.    One of my friends was up and moving back to the bow seat.   At the given moment a wake broadsided the boat, and the wind picked up.  He took a headed, almost fell overboard,, but was able to catch himself on the gunraill and fall in ...

Here at Lake of the Ozarks (and in fact all of Missouri’s waterways and lakes), State Law requires the use of certain combinations of lights (Red, Green, and White), called “Navigation Lights” when boating at night. Missouri Law also regulates certain other styles of lights that boaters use at night, called “Recreational Lighting”.  Recreational lighting on boats has become more popular in recent years.  Recreational light can include Rub Rail lighting, Deck Rail lighting, or Underwater lighting.  These can come in a variety of colors and intensities.  The newest recreational lighting configurations use LED lights, which, by nature, are usually brighter than filament bulbs. So, what’s the problem? Well, there are a few; let’s discuss those. First, USCG Regulations, Rule 20 again, states “ The Rules concerning lights shall be complied with from sunset to sunrise, and during such times no other lights shall be exhibited, except such lights as cannot be m...

It’s nearly Friday! Getting ready to go kick back on the boat this weekend? Relax, unwind, invite some friends and have some beers, right? Think twice before you get behind the wheel of a boat while intoxicated, though. Jail time, lawsuits, injury and death can all result from driving a boat drunk. Boozing and boating is definitely a great way to ruin a good time. While  alcohol  consumption is not illegal while  boating ,  boat  operators should be aware of the laws and potential penalties for operating the vessel while under the influence. ... Just like with driving a motor vehicle on land, there is technically no safe amount of  alcohol  that someone can  drink  and then operate a  boat . Here are 6 of the most common rumors about alcohol and boating: 1.  Drinking alcohol while operating a boat isn’t a big deal; it’s not as dangerous as drinking and driving a car. The fact is, alcohol is responsible for 16% of boating f...

  There is a nip in the air, the leaves are starting to change color.  It is time to start thinking about putting the boat away until next year. BoatUS offers the Following information: The bad news about winterizing your boat is that if you forget something critical or you do something incorrectly, you may be faced with expensive repair bills and a long delay to get back on the water next spring. The good news is that most winterizing chores are not that hard, and we can show you how to avoid the vast majority of problems in a single page (though you'll want to  download our winterizing guide  for a much more in-depth look). In a nutshell, winterizing means storing your boat properly, making sure engines and drives are protected, and making the plumbing freeze-proof. Taking a few moments now to think about how you'll put your boat to bed for the off season, as the days grow shorter and the ducks fly south, will pay dividends later. Whether this is your first or your...

  You've always wanted a   personal water craft (PWC)   such as a Jetski, Wave Runner or a Sea-Doo, and now you've got one. Now what? If you plan on taking your new toy out and testing its limits on your favorite lake, river or ocean, there are basic essentials to keeping  yourself and children safe. Personal Water Craft are fast and injuries occur. In a recent study in over a 30-month period, there were 82 wrecks, 57 injuries, and four deaths alone involving PWCs.  About half of all injuries were people under the age of 19. The most common cause of the accidens were cited as inexperience (50 percent), inattention (28 percent), and negligent operation (10 percent).  In the U.S., only 16 states require boating education and 10 require special training for using PWC. There are 43 states that have age limitations for PWC, but these range dramatically from age 10 to 16.    Missouri Boating Laws and Regulations  All persons must be at least  ...

  Tubing is a exhilarating ride, and can be fun.  But also a event that is potentially  dangerous and could end with tragic results. Y our kids are more than ready for a fun-filled day   tubing on the water .  They’re begging you to take them out on the water when the weather’s nice. Your on Vacation,  They have been on their best behavior, in the hopes of staying in your good graces. Any parent with a boat  and kids  are familiar with this scenario. But do you know how to keep them safe? Tubing accidents  and injuries are on the rise.  Water tubing, a recreational activity in which participants ride an inner tube which is pulled behind a boat by a tow rope, has grown in popularity in recent years.  According to a new study by researchers at the  Center for Injury Research and Policy  of  The Research Institute  at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the annual number of water tubing-related injuries increa...