Paul Szmal: I don't know if today would necessarily be a good day to be out on the water, but being out on the water is a common thing in the Finger Lakes in the summertime for a lot of boaters, so we want to have our summer version of our Safe Boating Conversation, and for that we bring in our boating expert, Ira Goldman. Ira, good morning. How are you this morning, sir?
Guest: Good morning, Paul. I'm fine. I hope you are as well, and you're right. We're approaching probably the busiest boating weekend of the year in the Finger Lakes, both with the high temperatures and the Fourth of July weekend coming up. So we want to go over a few things. For seasoned boaters, this is pretty much routine stuff, but maybe for people who are going to be boating for the first time or don't have a lot of experience on the water, these are some important tips for you. First off, motorboats have to yield the right weight to sailboats and paddlecraft on the water.
Paul Szmal: That's correct.
Guest: All powered vessels yield to those who are not, and that includes personal watercraft. I think the significance here is that they are more maneuverable, and with lots of people on the water doing a number of different things, we have to make sure that people understand, you know, who has the right away, and actually the correct wording is you can yield the right away, but you never have it. There's also, speaking of yielding the right away, if you have a boat approaching you to the starboard side, which would be the right side, or you're overtaking a boat from behind, then you have to be mindful of this as well.
Paul Szmal: Right. There are the normal rules, so as you said, any boat approaching from the right has the right away to keep going. You have to avoid them. If you're overtaking someone, that's the same situation, and if you're out at night, you can tell how you're approaching because the navigation light on the front of a boat on the right side is green, which indicates boats approaching from the right should keep going. On the left or port side, it's red, which indicates that they need to stop and let you keep going. However, you know, you need to be prepared. If there is a boat coming from your left, and you are a so-called stand-on boat, you need to be prepared in case that boat does not realize that he needs to alter course, and you need to be prepared to yield. In all cases, you want to avoid a collision.
Guest: Absolutely. We're talking with Ira Goldman, getting some summer safe boating tips here on FLX Morning on Finger Lakes News Radio. One of the big things I've noticed in being out on the water, especially up in Canada where my in-laws camp is, there are no wake zones posted, and there are some speed limits posted. You have to pay attention to these as well on the water.
Paul Szmal: That's correct. Most of the Finger Lakes that are wholly within New York, which would include, for instance, Canandaigua and Keuka Lake, there is a speed limit that's actually 200 feet from or closer to shore or any anchored boats or rafts. The speed limit is five miles an hour. If you're on the Keuka Lake or Seneca Lake, which are considered to be federal waters, there is no speed limit out in the middle of a lake. There may be in some local village and towns along the lake, so you need to be aware of that. And in any event, the operator of a boat is always responsible for any damage or injuries that are caused by your wake. So you need to be careful that you don't swamp a smaller boat, particularly people who may be fishing or anchored. In this case, that most cases means slowing down. In some cases, planing boats actually produce more wake when they're going slower than planing speed, so you need to be familiar with the boat you're on. And finally, in terms of wake, wake boarding has become a very popular sport, and there are boats particularly designed for that that have ballast tanks and actually jet pumps that are meant to increase the wake and the wave behind the boat. And while they're subject to the same 100 or 200 foot rule from speed limit of five miles an hour, they really need to stay further away because they create a huge wake wave even when they're going very slow.
Guest: When it comes to the unfortunate accident that may happen, whether it involves you or another boat, what are some of the best practices there, Ira?
Paul Szmal: Well, according to New York state and federal law, you are required to assist if you are involved in an accident or you observe one, as long as you can do so safely and without endangering your crew or anyone else. And of course, if emergency response crews are already there, you can turn that over to them as long as they don't need your input for what caused the accident. But it is the responsibility of every boat operator to aid another boat or if they're in distress.
Guest: Now, let's cover the use of alcohol on a boat. Unlike a motor vehicle on the road, you are allowed to have an open container of alcohol on a boat, but the rules of the road when it comes to intoxication still apply.
Paul Szmal: That's correct. And the 0.08 blood alcohol limit applies for alcohol. The tests for under the influence of drugs are the same as they are for a motor vehicle. And the combined effect of sun, wind, and alcohol, particularly, increased reaction time more on a boat than a vehicle. So they're having a designated operator who's not drinking or using legal drugs while operating the boat is always a good practice.
Guest: And when it comes to boating courtesy on the water, there are a few tips that you should follow too.
Paul Szmal: Well, we have people with a lot of our boats with sound systems, voting areas around camp swimming area. If there's a designated race course set up for either sail or power boats, all that you need to be courteous to others. And if you're launching or retrieving a boat at a ramp, you should prepare to everything you need before you put the trailer in the water. So you can get the boat in and pull away. And then once you're away from the ramp, you can do the tie down and covering of a boat before driving off. And of course, in this area, when you're leaving a ramp, you're required to make sure the boat is clean of any invasive species that might have been picked up. And we mentioned this tip earlier this year, but it's worth mentioning again. If you're putting your boat in the water for the first time, make sure the drain plug is in.
Guest: Oh, that's correct. For sure. I mean, if you haven't had your boat in the water this year and you put it in, it really makes a very disturbing day if the boat starts sinking at the ramp.
Paul Szmal: Yeah, for sure. Yeah. I have seen that happen to people, too, and it's not fun at all.
Guest: Now, if you're looking for some resources and some information, there happens to be a boating channel that is available through a lot of streaming devices.
Paul Szmal: That's correct. The America's Boating Club, of which I am a member, has for a number of years now, with some sponsorship of Coast Guard grants, created an America's Boating Channel, which is available free on devices like Roku, Apple TV. Most smart TVs can access it. You just search for the America's Boating Channel, and it has videos that have been created by the America's Boating Club, the Coast Guard, BoatUS, other boating groups that show how to easily and safely operate your boat under a variety of conditions and locations. And these are usually, you know, 10-minute videos, maybe less, so it's not like sitting for a while watching a course. You can find a topic you're interested in and go from there.
Guest: Now, I'm glad you mentioned the word course, because it bears reminding again, anybody who is operating a boat on the water in New York State must take the safe boating course and have that boating certificate.
Paul Szmal: That's correct. You must have a safe boating certificate from either New York, or if you're a resident of another state, and you've taken their course, that's permitted. For residents in this area, particularly for listeners down in the Ithaca area, the America's Boating Club chapter in Ithaca is going to hold an America's Boating course on August 1st and 2nd. That's a Saturday and a Sunday, four hours each afternoon. That gets the safe boating certificate you're required. And many people prefer an in-person course, and it's easier to do in two sections than one eight-hour course. And if they're interested in that, they can go to the americasboatingcourse.com and put in the zip code, and that will come up. But again, it's held at the Lansing Community Center in Lansing, New York, and it's going to be on August 1st and 2nd.
Guest: All right. Well, Ira, I hope everybody out on the water this summer has a good time, and most importantly, a safe one.
Paul Szmal: And same to you as well, sir. Happy 4th of July.
Guest: Same to you, Paul. Hope you have a good holiday, and hope everyone out there stays safe.
