SAVE THE DATE! Annual Vessel Safety Check at Manchaug Pond to get you on the water safe and sound! Examiner Jim Arpin [..]
National Safe Boating Week ~ May 18 to 24th
National Safe Boating Week reminds all boaters to brush up on boating safety skills and prepare for the boating season. This observance week is the annual kick-off of the Safe Boating Campaign, a global awareness effort that encourages boaters to make the most of their boating adventure by being responsible. “The best boating experience is safe boating,” said Yvonne Pentz, communications director of the National Safe Boating Council, a nonprofit dedicated to helping create a safe boating experience for all boaters and the lead organization of the Safe Boating Campaign. “Have fun on the water, make memories with your family and friends – all while boating responsibly.” U.S. Coast Guard statistics show that drowning was the reported cause of death in four out of every five recreational boating fatalities in 2019, and that 86 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets. There are many options for boaters when it comes to choosing a life jacket. When selecting a life jacket, a boater should check that it is U.S. Coast Guard approved, appropriate for the water activity, and fits properly. “Remember, the best life jacket is the one you will wear,” said Pentz. “Whether you’re going fishing or …
Kayaking? Life Jackets Required
Did you know life jackets are required for cold weather kayaking in five states including Massachusetts? From September 15th through May 15th life jackets are required, yes mandatory, for all person’s kayaking and canoeing on Manchaug Pond and all other Massachusetts waterways. It is not enough to have the life jacket in the boat, all persons on board a canoe or kayak must wear a life jacket/PFD at all times. People enjoy boating and fishing in the fall and spring, but a nice sunny spring or fall day can quickly become hazardous if you end up in cold water. According to the Massachusetts Environmental Police, most boating fatalities in the Commonwealth result when boaters fail to wear life jackets while in small craft in cold water or weather. Paddlers in canoes and kayaks are required to wear life jackets from September 15 – May 15. The Wear It! Campaign unites the efforts of a wide variety of boating safety advocates and is produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. The Wear It! Campaign reminds boaters to: Make sure everyone – even experienced swimmers – wears a properly fitting …
FREE Vessel Safety Check ~ Safe Boating!
BOATERS VESSEL SAFETY CHECK OFFERED AT MANCHAUG POND Manchaug Pond Foundation and a Green Bay Sail & Power Squadron volunteer help boaters stay safe. MANCHAUG POND, SUTTON/DOUGLAS: JUNE 8, 2019 – With boating season under way, the Manchaug Pond Foundation is sponsoring a free Vessel Safety Check (VSC) for all interested boaters at the state boat ramp on Manchaug Pond, Saturday, June 8th between 9:00 AM and Noon, Torrey Road in Sutton. This is a no-cost, no-risk, courtesy inspection offered to all interested boaters of all ages. All types of vessels are eligible from paddleboards and pedal boats, to sail, kayaks and canoes, to personal watercraft and power boats. Qualified Vessel Examiner Jim Arpin of the Greenwich Bay Sail & Power Squadron will help you make your vessel safe and legal. Did you know that a kayak, canoe, or pedal boat needs a whistle or horn? Or that any boat with a motor must be registered with the numbers displayed on the hull? Do you have life jackets for all on board? Jim will walk you through the rules and regulations for your vessel, point out both the required and recommended items to have aboard, such as fire extinguishers, life jackets, distress …
Kayaking and canoeing… Life jackets required until May 15th
With this beautiful spring May day with temperatures in the high 80’s, remember that the water temperature here on Manchaug Pond the last water sampling was in the high 40’s and low 50’s! And did you know life jackets are required […]