MORGANTOWN — For some people a relaxing summer day is spent on a boat.
“Boating gets you outside on the water and it is one of those great experiences you can have,” Barry Pallay, president of Upper Monongahela River Association, said.
Boating can be dangerous, but following the rules can help mitigate that risk and help everyone have a fun, safe, experience.
“If you’re a novice the biggest thing is a boat does not have brakes,” he said. “You have to be very careful and keep that in mind.
Pallay encouraged boaters to be aware of the boating rules published and enforced by the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (DNR) and recommended that people new to boating take a boater safety class. He also offered safety tips, but said the tips are no replacement for a class.
According to the DNR, “no person born on or after Dec. 31, 1986, may operate a motorboat or personal watercraft on any waters of this state without first having obtained a certificate of boating safety education from this or any other state.”
Pallay recommended people interested try to find a Power Squadron class and said there are free boater safety classes available.
Much like the driver of a car, truck or any other vehicle, boat drivers should stay sober, he said.
DNR has a boat that patrols Cheat Lake and the enforcement branch has police powers, meaning boaters can be cited by the DNR for violations, Pally said.
Friday through Sunday, DNR will participate in Operation Dry Weekend — a national enforcement effort to raise awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence, a DNR press release stated. The DNR will arrest anyone driving a boat with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 or greater.
Using alcohol while boating impairs judgment, balance, vision and reaction time and is the leading contributing factor in recreation boating deaths in the United States, according to the press release.
Pallay also advised people planning to go out on the water to use sunscreen and not to underestimate the sun.
Boating at night, fishing from a boat and boating in areas with dams and locks increase the number of rules and safety concerns. Pally recommended people engaging in those activities look up the relevant rules.
“It really can add to the quality of your life and that of your family,” Pallay said of boating.
