If you have a boat, the Ontario Provincial Police know you are itching to get out on the water after a long winter. It wants to make sure you do so safely.
The OPP says there have been a number of local marine-related tragedies over the past few years, and in all but one incident, they were related to the lack of preparation or the absence of safety equipment onboard small vessels.
It defines small vessels as all paddleboards, water-cycles, sealed hull and sit-on-top kayaks, canoes, kayak rowboats, sailboards, kiteboards, and rowing shells.
While there appears to be a sense of security on the water when boaters are close to the shore, police say that is where 88% of fatal incidents last year occurred.
Another 75% were in calm water, all of them involved men or boys, and 75% did not have a protective flotation device or lifejacket onboard.
That is why it is reminding boaters to have at least one lifejacket on board for every passenger, a sound signalling device, a buoyant heaving line of at least 15m long, a bailer or manual bilge pump, and flares.
"For those that live along the coastlines of Essex County, a simple paddle along the shore in front of your home or cottage must be undertaken safely and with the necessary equipment on board," says Essex County OPP Detachment Commander Glenn Miller. "We continue to see boaters who feel that a few feet from the shoreline in shallow waters is safe. However, it is not.
"Always know where your safety equipment is located and that you will be prepared to survive should your vessel capsize," he continues. "OPP marine members train for having no more than 15 seconds to safely exit a sinking vessel and survive; you need to as well."
The OPP will be focusing on small vessel safety this boating season. It says boaters can expect to see a strong officer presence on the waterways.
