November a deadly month for boaters
On any given day, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary member Bob Rosenberg peers out onto the water and sees a number of boaters acting carelessly without life jackets, two of the most common factors that lead to boating fatalities.
And he's not the only one noticing the trend. According to the U.S. Coast Guard's 2008 boating statistics, November is the deadliest month for boaters, with 36 deaths in the 122 reported accidents nationwide.
In Delaware, three fatalities were reported in the 11 boating accidents last year. While complete statistics have not yet been compiled for 2009, Rosenberg said four people perished this November in Delaware's waters.
"It's a month when people just get careless," he said. "We've got people who come down here and they don't give a damn."
According to the report, October and December have the second and third highest percentage of boating fatalities.
Although the number of accidents has declined since 1996, the report states that the number of deaths has stayed relatively the same. Rosenberg believes it could be due to inclement weather conditions.
"November can be a terrible month for weather," he said. "Some (boaters) don't pay attention ... or don't take a life jacket out with them."
During Tropical Storm Ida, three people went missing when their 44-foot boat went down off the coast of Cape May, N.J. A rescue helicopter located an empty life raft, but the fishermen were not located.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary hosts boating safety classes and offers boat inspections, where boaters are reminded of safety precautions. One of the top factors in boating-related deaths is the neglect of life jackets, Rosenberg said. Although they can be uncomfortable, they can save a life.
Leaving a boat plan with family or friends is also another good idea, he said. If something were to go wrong while on the water, he said the boat can be located much quicker.
Capt. Mike Rivera, of On Delivery Sport Fishing at the Indian River Inlet, said most of the unsafe situations occur when fishermen or boaters ignore navigation rules set forth by the Coast Guard.
"When people aren't courteous of other boaters, that gets people in trouble more than anything else," he said. "They're not paying attention to what they are doing, ignoring the rules of the road; that's not being very safe."
Many times, he said recreational fishermen don't take the time to learn about their surroundings.
"Especially striper fishing, because people have such a passion for it," he said. "They lose sight of how quick the conditions can change."
Capt. Charlie Helmer, of Tranquila Sportfishing in Lewes, said safety among the charter boat community is always at the forefront. His boat is equipped with enough life jackets for everyone on board, as well as life rafts and satellite tracking equipment that can locate the boat in case of emergency.
Last September, he said he came across a sinking recreational boat while on the way back from a fishing trip. The 18-foot vessel had six people on it, which he said is too many for a boat of that size.
He said the occupants were wearing life jackets, which could've saved their lives since they were in the water for six hours. Helmer and his crew managed to save five of the six people.
But some boating accidents are not caused by carelessness, he said.
"If your boat is going to sink, it could be as simple as a hose coming loose in the engine room," he said. "At night, early in the morning, or after a storm, you can hit something like a telephone pole. There's nothing really careless about it, it just kind of happens."
Source: November a deadly month for boaters
And he's not the only one noticing the trend. According to the U.S. Coast Guard's 2008 boating statistics, November is the deadliest month for boaters, with 36 deaths in the 122 reported accidents nationwide.
In Delaware, three fatalities were reported in the 11 boating accidents last year. While complete statistics have not yet been compiled for 2009, Rosenberg said four people perished this November in Delaware's waters.
"It's a month when people just get careless," he said. "We've got people who come down here and they don't give a damn."
According to the report, October and December have the second and third highest percentage of boating fatalities.
Although the number of accidents has declined since 1996, the report states that the number of deaths has stayed relatively the same. Rosenberg believes it could be due to inclement weather conditions.
"November can be a terrible month for weather," he said. "Some (boaters) don't pay attention ... or don't take a life jacket out with them."
During Tropical Storm Ida, three people went missing when their 44-foot boat went down off the coast of Cape May, N.J. A rescue helicopter located an empty life raft, but the fishermen were not located.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary hosts boating safety classes and offers boat inspections, where boaters are reminded of safety precautions. One of the top factors in boating-related deaths is the neglect of life jackets, Rosenberg said. Although they can be uncomfortable, they can save a life.
Leaving a boat plan with family or friends is also another good idea, he said. If something were to go wrong while on the water, he said the boat can be located much quicker.
Capt. Mike Rivera, of On Delivery Sport Fishing at the Indian River Inlet, said most of the unsafe situations occur when fishermen or boaters ignore navigation rules set forth by the Coast Guard.
"When people aren't courteous of other boaters, that gets people in trouble more than anything else," he said. "They're not paying attention to what they are doing, ignoring the rules of the road; that's not being very safe."
Many times, he said recreational fishermen don't take the time to learn about their surroundings.
"Especially striper fishing, because people have such a passion for it," he said. "They lose sight of how quick the conditions can change."
Capt. Charlie Helmer, of Tranquila Sportfishing in Lewes, said safety among the charter boat community is always at the forefront. His boat is equipped with enough life jackets for everyone on board, as well as life rafts and satellite tracking equipment that can locate the boat in case of emergency.
Last September, he said he came across a sinking recreational boat while on the way back from a fishing trip. The 18-foot vessel had six people on it, which he said is too many for a boat of that size.
He said the occupants were wearing life jackets, which could've saved their lives since they were in the water for six hours. Helmer and his crew managed to save five of the six people.
But some boating accidents are not caused by carelessness, he said.
"If your boat is going to sink, it could be as simple as a hose coming loose in the engine room," he said. "At night, early in the morning, or after a storm, you can hit something like a telephone pole. There's nothing really careless about it, it just kind of happens."
Source: November a deadly month for boaters
