Summertime is playtime on Lake Erie for recreational boaters. With preseason inspections and tune-ups of hulls, engines, props, sail riggings, masts, etc. complete, boating enthusiasts are now in peak season on Cleveland’s North Shore. Long, lazy days of summer beckon, and Lake Erie is a prime playground. From powerboating to paddle boarding, the view from Cleveland’s expansive lakeshore is populated with a variety of pleasure craft.

Before you test the waters of Lake Erie next, refresh yourself with and practice basic boating safety. While not all-inclusive, the following bullet points are intended to get you thinking as seriously about water/boating safety as you do about water/boating fun:

– BEFORE YOU GO OUT, alert at least one responsible adult of your planned activity, expected duration, and where you plan to be on Lake Erie.

– Be aware of your surroundings. Lake Erie is uniquely shallow for a large body of water and is susceptible to immediately changeable water hazards. Pop-up storms and/or high winds can result in a tug-of-war between life and death.

– Equip your boat with a working navigational radio and ensure passengers know where it is and how to use it.

– As is the case with driving, boating and alcohol do not mix. Limit or restrict alcohol, particularly by the person(s) responsible for navigating/operating the boat. Be aware that alcohol consumption, even for passengers just along for the ride, can result in a dangerous, even deadly, “person overboard” event, i.e. someone coming into contact with the propeller, or diving into a rock in shallow water.

– Boat operators/owners are responsible for the safety of their passengers. Learn the rules, your responsibilities, and safe operating procedures of your vessel, whether it be a powerboat, sailboat, or human-propelled vessel.

– Require everyone wear a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved, life jacket upon boarding. The law specifically requires minors of certain ages as well as minors on board specifically-sized vessels wear life jackets while on a moving vessel. The U.S. Coast Guard estimates the lives of more than 80% of total boating fatality victims could have been saved had they been wearing a life jacket. Even the most skilled and experienced swimmers operating without a life jacket are no match for the power of troubled water that can surface quickly on Lake Erie.

– Pets are people too. If you take your dog on board, put a pet life jacket on the dog.

Have a safe and fun summer on Lake Erie with your friends and family. Contact your Trusted Choice Independent Insurance Agent at Richey-Barrett Insurance to discuss insurance for your boat, jet skis, and any other personal insurance needs.