Cold-Water Boating Safety

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Maybe it’s the solitude of early-season boating that is so alluring. There is certainly a stark beauty to it. Trees are just beginning to bud, and blooming shrubs add to their vibrant colors. Often, wildlife encounters are more abundant as well, thanks to the relatively few boaters out enjoying the sometimes-frosty experience. But with that beauty comes added responsibility and the need to be prepared for unexpected hazards.

Take, for instance, an incident in Alaska, when three men decided to go duck hunting. The air temperature was 39 degrees; the water registered just 40. As they launched their small boat into a tidal marsh, the gusty wind began opposing the tide, creating a tight, heavy chop that started breaking over the bow. Within minutes the boat swamped and capsized, and the three friends found themselves in bone-chilling water.

“I believe it was the coldest I’ve ever been,” one of the hunters told the Juneau Empire. Luckily, the three had a few key factors in their favor. They were all wearing life jackets, they were able to climb on top of or cling to the capsized boat, and one of them used his cell phone, stored in a Ziploc bag, to call the Coast Guard station in Juneau. Their quick thinking and the Coasties’ fast response time turned this into a cold-weather emergency with a happy ending.

Unfortunately, emergencies don’t always end so well. Michael Folkerts, recreational-boating safety specialist for Coast Guard District 17 in Alaska, says many people just don’t understand the risks involved with boating in the cold. Alaska has the highest recreational-boater fatality rate in the country, and part of the problem stems from boaters getting into trouble in marginal weather. Thankfully, Folkerts and his colleagues have much hard-earned wisdom to share so that, wherever you live, you can prepare.

Before You Go
It’s understandable why boaters like to go out in the cold. “The fall, winter and early spring can be some of the most beautiful times to be on the water,” Folkerts says, “but the weather can change in an instant.” Therefore, you should take a few precautionary steps before you head out.

File a Float Plan; Follow It — “There’s nothing worse,” Folkerts says, “than getting a call from a significant other saying, ‘My husband was supposed to be back four hours ago.’” When asked where he was going, the wife doesn’t know because he didn’t tell her. Leave as detailed a plan as possible with your spouse, a relative or a friend and tell them you will check in when you get back to land. If they don’t hear from you, they’ll know to call for help and where to send the rescuers.

Dress For the Water, Not the Weather — One of the biggest mistakes people make is dressing for the air temperature. “Sometimes you get those 60-degree days but the water temperature is still in the 40s,” Folkerts says. Water can sap your body heat 25 times faster than air can, so protect yourself from possible immersion, no matter how warm it feels outside.

Cotton Kills — “Cotton is one of the worst things you can wear when it’s cold and damp,” says David Borg, Folkerts’ colleague and the boating safety analyst for District 17. Cotton absorbs water and reduces body temperature much more quickly than other materials. Wear water-resistant fabrics and layers that wick away moisture, and a waterproof outer layer.

Fix It Now — Folkerts says his district gets a lot of calls in the early spring when boaters launch for the first time. “People want to get on the water and don’t do maintenance as they should,” he says. “The boat runs for a while and then quits.” Do all your spring commissioning work, and make the first run a short one close to the dock or launch ramp.

Prepare For the Worst — One could argue that a Ziploc bag saved the Alaskan duck hunters. Bring supplies to prepare for an emergency, such as blankets, food, water, warm clothes and communication and location devices, including a VHF radio, GPS and emergency positionindicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or personal locator beacon (PLB). Don’t rely on a cell phone, but if you bring it, keep it dry, and preprogram rescue numbers. Dialing 911 sends you to a land-based emergency system and could delay your rescue. The hunters knew to dial *CG, which in Alaska puts you in direct contact with the Coast Guard command center in Juneau. Find out what to dial in your area.

Have a Fire Drill — Where’s the ladder, the throwable life preserver, the ditch bag, the VHF radio? Go over the exact location of all key safety gear before you leave the dock. If you’re boating with a friend, discuss who’s going to do what if someone falls overboard, and how to make emergency calls.