Three Safety Tips to Safely Get You Through the Spring Fishing and Boating Season

 Unusually warm weather here in Portsmouth, Virginia,  may make some
 forget that cold waters still lurk beneath the keel.

In many parts of the country, people are asking when did winter end and spring begin? Anglers and boaters are taking advantage of the  unusually warm weather, but some may be forgetting that cold waters still lurk  beneath the keel. Here's three easy safety tips that will  help you get safely through the spring fishing and boating season.

Refresh your memory: Take a boating safety course now from the comfort of your own home. We recommend the no-cost BoatUS Foundation Online Boating Safety course, which is designed so that you can stop and then continue at any time, includes videos that demonstrate important safety devices such as flares, shows the rules of the road, how to get help in an emergency, and the best way to fit a life jacket to a child so they will not slip out. Go to BoatUS online boat safety course. It may also help you save money on boat insurance and meet your state's requirements for boating safety education.

Don't allow the warm weather to let your guard down: The air temperatures may be downright balmy, but deceptively cold  waters increase the risk of hypothermia even on a "T-shirt" day. Also remember  there are fewer boats out on the water that could come to your aid. Bring extra  layers or change of clothes and rain gear this time of year. Remember, water conducts heat away from your body 25 times faster than air does, so you cool much more rapidly in water!

Plan on how to get back in the boat: If you  accidentally went overboard, do you have a way to get back aboard? You may be  surprised how hard this can be - especially if you are alone or haven't  prepared for it. It could be as simple as having a rope with looped foot holds  affixed to a cleat that can easily be grabbed from the water. The BoatUS  Foundation also tested after-market boarding ladders for small jonboats, RIBs  and larger center console boats. You can view these tests at BoatUS market tests.  A hardcopy of the tests along with a ranking of the best ladders can also be  found at BoatUS.com/foundation/boardingladders.

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Traveling Along the ICW and the Chesapeake Bay? Beware of Flood Debris From Hurricane Irene

Small boats moving at high speeds can be sunk easily by striking a submerged object

Normally this time of year, boaters have to be concerned about cooler water  temperatures, rapid temperature swings, and being more self-reliant as fewer  boaters are on the water to help in a potential emergency. With the recent  storms, however, you can add one more to  the list: a dramatic increase in the number of submerged objects lurking on or  just below the surface of rain swollen rivers, lakes and bays.

The fact is that small boats moving at high speeds can be sunk easily by striking a submerged object, whether it's a tree, parts of buildings, fences, landscape timbers or other debris washed down in recent storms.

What's the best precaution? Slow down after significant rain events and post extra lookouts  - the more eyes the better. It's really a problem for any boat as running gear and outdrives can be damaged and lead to water coming in.

Mile Marker "0" AICW  has these four tips:

Before you go: Have all of the safety and communications gear aboard  and ensure the bilge pumps are working and there is no debris in the bilge.  It's always a good idea to have an extra bailer or two aboard, such as a  bucket, emergency hand pump or even a cut-off detergent bottle. Also understand  that navigational aids may have shifted.

Stop for any "thud": If you hear a thud, always stop the boat immediately  and inspect the bilge or storage compartments for damage - then check again a  short while later. A crack can  open up after a boat has bounced around a while. Another sign of damage is the  boat may feel "funny" or less responsive, a sign that water is coming aboard.

Put on life jackets: If you find water coming aboard - even if it's just  a trickle - immediately put on your life jacket and notify the Coast Guard as  you could lose the power and the ability to send a distress call on your VHF.  It takes only seconds for a trickle to get worse.

Be prepared to improvise: If you do find a hole in the hull, bilge pumps alone  may not stem the tide. Use anything you may have aboard such as towels, wooden  bungs (keep them handy for plugging round holes such as prop shaft logs), or other gear to wedge into holes or cracks.

While traveling the ICW, make sure to stop by Mile Marker "0" Marine Supply located at the High Street basin in Olde Towne Portsmouth, Virginia for all of your boating needs. Mile Marker "0" Marine Supply is ready to assist you 7 days a week and offers general vessel services such as preventive maintenance, diagnostics, inspections and diving. They also offer free delivery to all marinas.  The goal at Mile Marker "0" is to put you first and provide real value to all of their customers. For more information, please click on the link at Mile Marker"0" Marine Supply or call them at 757-673-4816.

The article above was kindly provided to us from the BOATUS pressroom. Boat Owners Association of The United States - is the nation's leading advocate for  recreational boaters providing over half a million members with government  representation, programs and money-saving services including towing services  and boat insurance. It's Damage Avoidance Program helps boaters learn how  prevent injury or vessel damage using real-world examples from the BoatUS  Marine Insurance claims files and other boating safety resources. For  membership information visit www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.