Outdoors

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Arena becomes a boating wonderland for Everett Boat Show 3/7/08   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, March 6, 2008 Courses help boaters meet state's rule By Andy Rathbun Herald Writer Safety may be center stage at the Everett Boat Show this year, as a recent state law continues to push boaters to get smart about accidents on the water. Washington State Parks and Recreation intends to give free exams so skilled boaters can prove they know what it takes to be a safe boater, potentially qualifying for a state-mandated boater education card. Additionally, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary plans to be at the show, enrolling people in America's Boating Course, an eight-hour class that teaches basic safety. Tailored for beginners and those needing a refresher, the course also helps boaters qualify for the card. "(Safety's) a theme we're trying to promote this year," John Thorburn, spokesman for the Northwest Marine Trade Association, said of boat safety at the show. "Especially with the new boater education law going into effect." The law was signed in 2005 and aims to expand safe boating practices. Last year, boaters aged 12 to 20 were required to complete safety education and get a boater education card for $10 by Jan. 1. Now, the requirement expands to include those 25 and younger -- that group must get a card by Jan. 1, 2009. Almost all operators need to get a safety education card by 2014, with one notable exception: Boaters born before Jan. 1, 1955, can skip the requirement, thanks to a grandfather clause in the law. Many boaters have embraced the legislation, and state officials point to a need for safer practices. About two-thirds of boat fatalities are preventable, said Dona Wolfe, a boating safety education coordinator for Washington State Parks. Wolfe said some boaters get cocky, thinking they are strong enough swimmers to avoid problems in case of a spill overboard. Washington's water temperature, which averages 55 degrees year-round, can sink even a strong swimmer. "It's very scary," Wolfe said. "People who think that they're good swimmers don't understand the cold water implications." Other hazards may be aggravated by better technology, said Michael Griffith, general manager at West Marine. "Boats with the new electronic stuff are so easy to use, it's almost like driving a car, but that gets other people out on the water ... who don't know safety," Griffith said. Safety classes that meet the new state requirement are available online, but the state parks department recommends spending the extra time and money on a live class, such as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's course. "You have someone who can answer your questions, and it's an opportunity too," Wolfe said. "You can learn a lot of the hands-on things simply by being around other boaters." Contact reporter Andy Rathbun at 425-339-3455 or arathbun@heraldnet.com.

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