Stay in the Boat

Sadly, over the years I have seen incidents in our area where someone on a boat goes overboard and is injured or worse. The reasons are many: weather, boat wakes, running aground, and by far the most common reason, according to the United States Coast Guard, is operator inexperience. I have a friend who has a condo on the Marco River. I have spent many afternoons sitting on his balcony watching boats go up and down the river. I have observed some stupid behavior, like adults or even worse children up on the boat bow with their feet hanging over the edge while the boat is underway. I have also seen boats where the operator and passengers seem to be really squared away.

But that begs the question, just how squared away is that helmsperson and the crew/passengers? I belong to the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron. The power squadron stresses the need to wear a personal floatation device (PFD) when on the water. My wife Kathie and I are sail boaters. There are many occasions where I find myself climbing around on the deck, fixing a sail or a line. It stands to reason that not wearing my inflatable PFD would be just irresponsible.

Looking at the 2024 US Coast Guard reports, you will see there were 3,887 verified incidents that involved 556 deaths and 2,170 injuries that year. More alarming is that when the cause of death was known, 76% of fatal boating incidents were from drowning. 87% of those people who drowned were not wearing a personal flotation device. A few more points to consider: four out of five people who drowned were on boats less than 21 feet. 69% of the deaths occurred on boats where the operator of the boat did not receive any boating safety instruction and only 19% of the deaths occurred on boats where the operators had received nationally approved boating safety instruction. And one last fact, operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, machinery, and violating the navigation rules were the top five contributing factors in boating accidents.

So, let’s go back to the beginning. How do we STAY IN THE BOAT? When I look at those boats going by, nine times out of ten, “Pop,” or the “man in charge,” is the operator and the passengers are just enjoying the ride. It always makes me wonder, just who else on that boat really knows how to run that boat?

Guys, number one, you are doing everyone an injustice by “hogging” the helm and number two, you can incorporate some fun training into your outings. When we get on our boats at the dock or at the ramp, as we first head out, the person who is in charge of the boat should do a safety briefing every time! Discuss how the boat operates, where are the PFDs, where is the VHF radio and how does it work? Where is the first aid kit, flares, fire extinguisher, and horn? Where is the anchor located and how is it deployed? Then discuss what to do if someone falls overboard. Now for the fun stuff. Everyone on your boat should know how the boat runs, yep, the kids, too. How do you start the engines, how do you put the boat in gear, and of course, how do you steer the boat while underway? Then find a quiet stretch of water and let everyone have a go helming the boat. Why? Simple. What if you, big guy, are the one who falls overboard or just becomes incapacitated?

So, you ask, why do I need to do this and review this every time we go out? Well, when I was teaching advanced SCUBA diving and rescue diving training for both the public and fire and police divers, we discussed a term, “normalization of deviation.” This was a term a friend of mine who was with the FAA used when he discussed pilot error crashes. Basically, it means cutting corners, skipping important safety points until the deviation from what you should be doing becomes a normal thing. Before long, that corner-cutting will bite you in the butt when something bad occurs. The person operating the boat not only needs to be aware of what’s happening around them, but what is happening on the boat, too. Someone hanging their feet over the gunnel, nope, tell them to sit inside the boat. Does that antenna really need to be lowered now? Or other things like fishing poles cleaned up while underway? If you are in charge of the helm, then take charge of the boat and keep your people safe. But safety is everyone’s responsibility.

At a gun range or in training, anyone can yell STOP if they see something dangerous. You need to tell your passengers that it is everyone’s job to be a lookout and yell STOP, or maybe HEY! if something doesn’t look right. Kids are great at this, and hey grandpop, is it ever too soon to get your grandkids involved in responsible boat handling? Everyone on the boat should be aware of the danger of shallow water, boat wake waves, other boats in the area, and as we discussed, how things work. Maybe teach the kids that those red and green markers are not leftover Christmas decorations, and what they actually mean; it’s never too early to teach navigation skills. This does not mean everyone on the boat needs to be in a condition RED of awareness. Just let everyone know that their observations and questions are welcome and our safety is everyone’s job.

So, more fun stuff - there is always that possibility that someone ends up not in the boat. Take some time to practice some man overboard drills. Make it a game and let everyone have a turn at the helm. Toss a floating seat cushion overboard and if possible, do it while “on plane.” Now, having discussed with your “crew” the need to watch where the overboard cushion is relative to the boat, you need observers pointing at the cushion. And then the helmsperson needs to safely come around and go back to retrieve the cushion. Want to add to the fun? Signal someone to toss the cushion without any prior warning, then yell, "man overboard.” And again, let everyone have a turn at the helm.

You might ask why going overboard is such a big deal. Heck, we are after all riding around in South Florida water, not the Great Lakes. Well as I write this, the Gulf’s temperature is 67 degrees. Check the Coast Guard’s hypothermia charts and you will see that severe hypothermia can occur in as little as two hours. BUT the effects of hypothermia, loss of fine motor and muscle skills, clouded vision, and the inability to follow directions can occur much sooner. Again, the Power Squadron advises everyone to wear a PFD when underway on the water.

If you personally don’t feel the need to follow this sound advice, at least when you go offshore, everyone needs to have an inflatable PFD on, not lying on the seat next to them. If you’re by yourself or perhaps just you and one other person, I’d consider wearing that inflatable PFD all the time on the off chance both of you go overboard and cannot get back to your boat. Inflatable PFD’s are actually not that uncomfortable to wear. Stop by the local West Marine and try one on!

And finally, get some training for both you and your family. Both the Marco Island Sail and Power Squadron, located at 1100 N Collier Blvd., and the Marco Island Coast Guard Auxiliary, whose training center is at 903 Collier Ct at the Caxambas boat ramp puts on several classes on boating instruction and safety. My favorite one is “Suddenly in Command.” As mentioned, imagine being out on the water and becoming disabled. Does anyone else on your boat know how to run your boat? Work the VHF radio? Know where the first aid kit even is? Give it some thought. For 2026, STAY SAFE AND STAY IN THE BOAT!