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Boating Safety
DO’S AND DONT’S OF BOATING ON LAKE OF THE OZARKS
Rules every boater should know before heading out on the water
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Story by MARIE KROLIKOWSKI
Personally, I have been comfortable at the wheel of a boat for the past 40plus years. I’ve boated a number of waterways — everything from small lakes and rivers to Lake Michigan. I’m fully aware of what the terms can, nun, port and starboard mean. I know it’s necessary to run the blower prior to starting the boat. I’ve pulled skiers, docked the boat, and loaded the boat onto the trailer. In spite of my experience, I was humbled to score a meager 88 percent on the Missouri boating test. The minimum for passing is 80 percent. The moral of this story: there’s always something new to learn.
Those of us who boat the Lake of the Ozarks know there are times when we simply glide across the water with barely another boat in site, and other times when the number of boats and waves makes it extremely challenging. Mark Niedergerke,
CHRIS PATIRES
a sales associate with Formula Boats of Missouri in Osage Beach, said the key to taking the rough waves is knowing your boat. He provides on-the-water orientation for the boats he sells, and said most dealerships at the Lake will do the same.
The “sweet spot,” the position where your boat moves best across the water, varies among the different types of boats.
“Finding that spot takes practice, but every boat has one,” Niedergerke explained. “It’s a balance of speed and where you set your trim. When you’ve found it, you can hear it and you can feel it.”
Although a heavier boat will take the impact of a wave better, these strategies will prove to be effective with any boat. Niedergerke added that drivers need to look ahead and try to read upcoming wave patterns. Taking the wake at a 45-degree angle helps smooth the impact as well as slowing down for the bigger ones.
Niedergerke knows that even the most qualified drivers can run into issues, and suggests checking the weather forecast before heading out. What starts out as a sunny day can quickly turn into a storm. Other advice includes remaining sober behind the wheel, keeping your head on a swivel to know what’s going on around you, and to know the rules of the water. Keep an anchor on your boat in the event you break down, and extra line in case you need to be towed. In addition, make sure life jackets are easily accessible for all passengers. Niedergerke stressed that all drivers would benefit from a boating safety education course.
Doug Beck, President of the Captains Association of Missouri and Co-Chairman of the Lake of the Ozarks Water Safety Council, couldn’t agree more. A main safety concern at the Lake, Beck explained, are novice boaters who are not familiar with navigating a boat or boating rules. An equally concerning issue is intoxicated drivers. Aside from knowing your boat, the rules, and remaining sober there are other factors in boating safety.
He went on to explain that it’s necessary to give anchored or stationary vessels a wide enough berth, a minimum of 100 feet if possible. It’s advised not to anchor in the middle or a channel or in the middle of the lake, and not to ski or tube in the middle of the lake either.
“As captain, your guests need to listen to the rules,” Beck said. “Passengers need to stay seated when the boat is underway, and wearing life jackets is highly advised. Don’t let your passengers ride in places on the boat where it’s illegal, and don’t overload your boat with too many passengers. The capacity plate on the boat indicates the maximum weight capacity as well as the maximum number of passengers the boat can safely carry. And again, have a designated driver.”
Many of the boating accidents at the Lake, Beck said, are due to inattentiveness and not knowing the navigational rules. These include ignoring the nighttime speed limit, driving too fast for conditions, and just not paying attention. The majority of the injuries reported are broken arms, spinal compressions, and neck injuries from people standing while the boat is hitting hard into waves.
“Out of all the waterways in the state of Missouri, the Lake of the Ozarks contributes to half of all boating accidents, DWI’s on the water, and injuries,” Beck
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BASIC MISSOURI STATE BOATING LAWS
Reference: Missouri State Highway Patrol – Water Patrol Division website. • Operating a boat while intoxicated is a criminal offense subject to a fine and/or time in jail. The offense is defined as operating a vessel with a BAC of .08% or greater • The minimum age for operating any watercraft in the State of Missouri is 14 years-of-age unless under the direct, on-board supervision of a parent, guardian, or other person 16 years-of-age or older. Parents and guardians are legally responsible for the underage operator and their actions. • Children under 7 years-of-age must wear a personal flotation device at all times, unless confined in a fully enclosed area such as a cabin. • The speed limit at night is 30 mph. • Riding on certain bows, gunwales, railing, on the top of the seat, back, and decking over the back of a motorboat is prohibited. • It is illegal to operate a boat or personal watercraft at speeds greater than “idle speed” within 100 feet of a dock, occupied or anchored vessel and buoyed area. • It’s illegal for PWC operators to: - Weave through congested waterway traffic - Jump the wake of another motorboat when visibility is obstructed - Become airborne while crossing the wave of another motorboat and within 100 feet of the motorboat creating that wake - Operate at greater than “no wake” speed within 50 feet of any other vessel, PWC, or person in the water - Every passenger on a PWC while underway must wear a
USCG-Approved personal floatation device • An operator of any vessel or PWC commits the offense of leaving the scene of an accident if he or she knows injury or damage has occurred, but fails to stop and give the other party or law enforcement their name, address, vessel registration number and driver’s license number. • All vessels shall display from sunset to sunrise proper navigational lights when underway. No other lights, continuous spotlights or docking lights shall be exhibited. • Motorboats shall carry on board at least one United States Coast Guard approved fire extinguisher. Some vessels are required to carry two fire extinguishers. • All vessels from 16 to 40 feet must have a sounding device, such as a horn or whistle. Vessels over 40-feet must have a sounding device and one bell. • Navigation Rules dictate if you are the Stand-on vessel or the Giveway vessel. They also dictate what to do when meeting another vessel head on. Refer to the Missouri Water Patrol website for specifics. • As of January 1, 2005, every person born after January 1, 1984, who operates a vessel on the Lakes of Missouri must possess, on the vessel, a boating safety identification card issued by the Water Patrol Division of the Missouri State Highway Patrol or its agent. added. “Many people simply drive their boats incorrectly. Just because you can drive a car doesn’t mean you can safely drive a boat. It’s physics and takes into account the movement of the boat, the wind, and other environmental issues. There’s an average of 100,000 boats on the water on major holidays and weekends.”
Brian Geier, a Missouri Trooper who patrols the Lake, has seen his share of boaters disobeying the laws. Intoxicated drivers, Geier said, cause the majority of the accidents on the water. Running a close second are those who are inexperienced and who don’t pay attention while driving.
“Designating a sober driver drastically cuts down on the number of accidents and injuries,” Beck said. “Also, be familiar with your vessel and how to operate it. Know where you are at on the Lake and let others know where you are going. It happens often where people go out and don’t know how to get back to where they started.”
Boats are stopped by Water Patrol for a number of reasons, including wake violations, lighting violations at night, no visible registration and erratic driving that poses an immediate safety threat to
other boaters. In addition, passengers riding on the outside deck of a pontoon boat and other illegal spots on vessels. Once pulled over, a $25 per jacket fine is yours if you don’t present a serviceable life jacket for every person on board and one throw cushion.
For those who boat the Lake often, Tow Boat US can take the worry of breaking down or being stranded. Two annual membership options are offered for boaters which provide towing, battery jumps, and fuel delivery. The $99 Unlimited Membership assists those who are stranded on the water. Members only pay for fuel if required. The $200 Unlimited Gold Membership assists boaters stranded on the Lake and also provides dock to dock service.
To ensure safety for yourself, your passengers and other boaters, take the time to learn your boat and how to best handle the waves. Pay attention to your surroundings and other vessels. Learn and follow the rules and respect your fellow boaters. And the issue that can’t be stressed enough, stay sober behind the wheel.
The Lake of the Ozarks Water Safety Council’s mission is to encourage boating education and safe boating. Their website contains information about boating safety, rules and regulations, events, education and much more. Information for boater’s safety classes is also available here.
>> lozwatersafetycouncil.com
The Missouri State Highway Patrol – Water Patrol Division offers boater education programs for children and adults throughout the year. They conduct safety inspections to determine if your vessel and equipment comply with state laws. A free version of the Missouri Boating Laws and Responsibilities Handbook is available on their website.
>> https://apps.mshp.dps.mo.gov/MSHPWeb/ WaterPatrol/index.html
Any boater’s safety class that is approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administration meets the requirements at the Lake of the Ozarks. The official Missouri Boating Safety Course is available to take online.
>> www.boat-ed.com/missouri
NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK IS MAY 21-27. The Lake of the Ozarks Water Safety Council is presenting a family-friendly water safety seminar. This gives boaters an opportunity to talk to various vendors in addition to Missouri Water Patrol. Date and time: May 21, 2022, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Location: Margaritaville Resort Registration and additional information: info@lozwatersafetycouncil.com Tow Boat US: 573-216-4701
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