Countywide : Free Boat-Safety Inspections Offered

Only one in 10 boats gearing up for summer voyages is properly equipped in case of an accident, according to the U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary. But the volunteer boating-safety group is hoping to improve those numbers by providing free inspections for boaters as the season gets underway.

A volunteer from the 2,300-member force in the southwest region will come to any Orange County harbor to perform an inspection.

At Newport Dunes marina, auxiliary volunteer Dave Knight inspected Eric and Laura Wolff’s 18-foot powerboat Tuesday, discovering that its flares were too old to work, the distress flag was inadequate and the motor and fire extinguishers needed to be secured.

Had a regular U.S. Coast Guard officer stopped the couple for a “compliance boarding”--which it can do at any time and for any reason--such violations could have cost the couple $100 to $1,000 in fines.

The auxiliary’s services extend well beyond Safe Boating Week, June 5-11, and are designed to prevent the kind of accidents seen by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department every year.

Deputy Terry Lundy of the sheriff’s Harbor Patrol in Newport Beach has three major complaints about boaters around Orange County: They fail to pay attention, post a lookout or keep the boat maintained.

More than 50% of boating deaths involve alcohol use, according to Lt. Christine Gustafson of the U.S. Coast Guard’s 11th District in Long Beach. Sober boating is the theme for this year’s Safe Boating Week.

The Coast Guard suggests selecting a designated driver for boating parties, but drunken boat passengers can also be a major problem. When passengers fall overboard, often disoriented by alcohol and fatigued by sun and glare, the breaking waves and cold water can be life-threatening, Gustafson said.

In this and other cases, “the cheapest life insurance you can buy is a life jacket,” she said.

In 1993, the Sheriff’s Department reported 208 boating accidents countywide, down from 233 in 1992 and 244 in 1991.

During the winter, most boat losses result from leaks, according to Deputy Lundy. In the summer, Lundy said, collisions are the biggest cause of accidents.

Capsizing is a major factor in boating deaths, according to Michael Ammon of the California Department of Boating and Waterways. Small boats are especially vulnerable if overloaded with passengers.

For the sake of visibility and warmth, Ammon advises boaters to always stay with the boat if it capsizes. Flares should be lit if available, and boaters should huddle together in the water or on top of the capsized vessel for warmth. Parents should also take care that children do not slip out of oversized life vests.

“One of the big mistakes we see is people trying to swim ashore for help,” Ammon said.

To arrange a free boat inspection from the Coast Guard Auxiliary, call (800) 869-SAIL.