Keep it safe on the water

from South's Best Kept Secret 2021-2022

Chamber Directory

Even though the focus around Lake Martin in the summer should be on having a good time with friends and family, Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Trooper Corey Robinett urges residents and visitors to stay alert and follow safety guidelines.

Be courteous

People come to the lake for recreational purposes and to have a good time, but by practicing courtesy and politeness, days on the water could run more smoothly.

Robinett reiterated the sentiment and said accidents could be avoided if people practice common sense. Many water safety rules are fairly vague, leaving them open to discretion.

“If it’s going to get you or someone else hurt, just don’t do it. Exercise good judgment,” said Robinett.

Common courtesy applies to encountering other vehicles as well. A manually propelled boat always has the right of way because it has less movability. Know the rules of when to slow down and give way to other boats. Robinett said Lake Martin is very busy at times, and incidents can be prevented if boaters stay alert to their surroundings and remain courteous to other boaters.

Check boats, especially at the beginning of a season

Before the first use of the season, be sure the boat is in working order by checking safety equipment, life jackets and lights. Also, be sure to examine boat fuel lines for possible leaks and damage. Allow boats

to be properly ventilated and keep fire extinguishers in working order. According to ALEA, fire extinguishers do not have a lifetime guarantee. They should be checked every year and replaced every three or four summers. Be sure all lights work as well. The boat should have red lights on the left and green lights on the right, with a white light on the stern that is required to be visible for 2 miles at 360 degrees. “Lights are the most important thing on a boat, Emergency Numbers especially at night,” said Robinett, who explained that between sunrise and Marine Police: sunset the lights on a boat (256) 329-2268 or 1-800-432-7389 should always be on. However, docking lights

TowBoat US Lake Martin should not be used when 256-307-1313 cruising because they could blind other boaters. Robinett said he makes hundreds of stops in a season due to lights – or the lack of them – and he encouraged boaters keep spares on board or pick up chem-lights, which are great in an emergency. There should be one life jacket on board for every passenger, and it has to be U.S. Coast Guard approved, in good condition and appropriately sized for the wearer. Children under age 8 must wear life jackets at all times.

Make a float plan

Call someone to let him or her know when going out for a boat ride. Be sure that person knows the location of the ride, registration of the boat, contact information and an estimated time of return.

Boating under the influence

The blood alcohol content legal limit for lake driving is the same as on the road at .08 percent and applies to any kind of water transportation device. The punishment for BUI can result in loss of license, jail time and a great deal of expense. Also, a person can become dehydrated more quickly when drinking in the sun.

Know the rules

The boat owner is responsible for all passengers and for who they allow to operate the vehicle.

Since the 1994 passage of the Roberson/Archer Act, the age requirement to operate a boat while supervised by someone over 21 is 12 years or older. At age 14, a licensed person is allowed to operate fully on his or her own.

Register the boat and renew the registration every year. Make sure the numbers are posted clearly on the sides of the boat as well. Have license and registration on the boat every time the boat is out.

Know what the hazard buoys look like, and know what they mean; be sure to keep 50 yards from them and do not travel between two hazard buoys.

When operating a personal watercraft, remember that it runs on power steering. Robinett said those not used to driving PWCs let off the gas to slow down and then lose the ability to steer.

Every boat has on board plate that states the vehicle’s maximum capacity in weight or number of people. If either limit is over the stated capacity, the boat operator could be penalized.

Robinett said no specific laws or rules have changed since last boating season. The marine police on Lake Martin also cover 32 counties and 14 bodies of water, and there is often an issue of manpower, he said. Resources and availability are limited and not always immediately available, so it helps when people follow the rules.