VIDEO: An eye on boating safety

By Keith Gushard

May 29, 2008 01:54 pm

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ON THE WATERS OF PYMATUNING LAKE — Sometimes Matt Visosky’s biggest problem when boating is attitude — not his, but those of others he encounters.
“Nobody goes out expecting their boat to capsize,” Visosky said. “Everybody thinks ‘It’s not going to be me’, but accidents happen.”
Visosky is a waterways conservation officer with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s northwest regional office in Meadville. He patrols both Pymatuning Lake and Conneaut Lake.
His concern is people are staying safe while on the water — and that means each boat having enough lifejackets for everyone onboard.
Pennsylvania’s boating laws require a U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable lifejacket for each person on board. In addition, one throwable personal floatation device — a seat cushion or ring buoy — is required on boats 16 feet in length or longer.
Children age 12 and younger must wear a lifejacket while underway on Pennsylvania waters on any boat 20 feet or less in length and in all canoes and kayaks.
In 2007, there were 11 boating fatalities in Pennsylvania, according to the Commission. That’s 14 fewer than 2006 and lower than the 10-year average of 12.5, however, only two of the 11 victims in 2007 were wearing lifejackets.
Two of the deaths were in Pymatuning Lake in 2007 and one was in Lake Erie.
“The deaths are preventable,” Visosky said during a recent interview while on patrol on Pymatuning. “People don’t respect the water enough. Water itself kills.”
Adding into the mix early in the boating season is cold water.
Pymatuning’s water temperature on Saturday’s patrol was only 56 degrees Fahrenheit instead of the low 70s it can reach in mid-summer.
A low water temperature increases the risk of hypothermia in a person if they fall in the water. Hypothermia occurs when a person’s body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
Visosky said his top violation on the water annually is a lifejacket infraction.
He’s made about 400 boating stops so this season since April and has written 55 citations for various infractions with 15 out of the 55 lifejacket infractions, the average percentage, he said.
“It runs about 4 to 1,” he said of lifejacket infractions to others.
“I had one stop where there were lifejackets for the dogs (onboard), but not enough for the people,” he said. “It’s not necessary to have them for pets.”
“Another stop, there was a kid in pajamas wearing slippers — and no lifejacket,” he said.
Visosky just wants more boaters to be like Robert and Dorothy Bish, a couple of 83-year-olds from DuBois who have been married 65 years and fish on Pymatuning often.
“We’ve never once been out without them,” Robert Bish said of wearing a lifejacket. “It doesn’t feel right if we don’t have them on.”

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

Did you know
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission regulations require a U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jacket for each person on board. In addition, one throwable personal floatation device — a seat cushion or ring buoy — is required on boats 16 feet or longer.
All children age 12 and younger must wear a lifejacket while underway on Pennsylvania waters on any boat 20 feet or less in length and in all canoes and kayaks.
The fine for not having enough lifejackets onboard is $50 plus $20 for each jacket needed plus court costs.

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