Sail into National Safe Boating Week
MARQUETTE, Mich. (WJMN) – Get ready to sail into National Safe Boating Week! The United States Coast Guard and the National Weather Service are using this week to remind everyone about safe boating practices as boating season begins.
“We kind of have like six important things,” said Petty Officer Manny Seguin, with the United States Coast Guard. “So wearing a life jacket, educating yourself and kind of going through skill based training, wearing your engine off switch, abstaining from use of alcohol is a really big one. Registering like your beacons and then potentially getting a free safety vessel inspection from the auxiliary.”
Make sure you have a life jacket that is US Coast Guard approved that fits you correctly and is not damaged.
The National Weather Service also wants to remind everyone to check the forecast before they head out on the water. Also remember the water temperature is much colder than the land.
“At the National Weather Service, we do issue special forecasts for people who are heading out onto the lake. We actually have multiple tiers of those forecasts for folks who just want to recreating stay near shore and then at folks on a traverse all the way across Lake Superior. We actually have a forecast for folks out there. So simply using a weather app going to weather.gov and clicking here on the U.P. and they have access to the Marine forecasts that were issued from our office and also making sure folks who are out there have Marine radio and things like that. So when warnings are being broadcast, they’re hearing the threatening weather that’s moving towards them.”
The National Weather service also wants to remind you that even if the temperature is hot on land, the lake is much colder. Hypothermia can set in quickly in Lake Superior’s frigid conditions so make sure you are cautious throughout the summer.
Have fun and be safe on the water this year!
The United States Coast Guard kicks off the week at Cinder Pond Marina in Marquette, Michigan Saturday May 18th at 10 am-1 pm to talk about boating safety and to answer any questions.
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