Recreation
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – “Boating safety” usually means preventing injuries or accidents while on the water.
Boats in winter storage have some unique safety concerns for boat owners who make periodic checkups over the long winter season.
Here are five tips from the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water to help boaters stay safe while visiting the boat this winter.
1. Injuries from ladder falls can be severe but are preventable. When using a ladder to climb aboard your frozen boat, be sure it is firmly planted, secure it with a line to avoid shifting, and have someone hold the base. Never descend a ladder facing forward or with your arms full. If moving tools, supplies or other objects to and from the deck, lower or raise them in a bucket using a rope.
2. Don’t trust the nonskid to do its job. Nonskid decks are slippery when covered by snow or encrusted with ice. Brush away any buildup on the deck where you plan to step, and always hold onto something, just as you would if you were underway. In warmer winter climates, decaying leaves and algae can also make decks slippery.
3. Snow and ice are heavy. One square foot of dense, wet snow can weigh more than 20 pounds, so use caution when going underneath a tarp or winter cover that’s loaded with snow. For even a small boat stored outside, over a ton of weight can be added after a storm, so brush off what you can before climbing aboard.
4. Check your jackstands for proper support. Jackstands or blocking can shift as the boat gets laden with snow and ice, or due to repeated freeze/thaw cycles. Never adjust jackstands yourself. Have marina personnel adjust and move supports.
5. Trailer boat frames should be supported at the rear cross beam. This prevents the tongue from lifting off the ground like a seesaw when climbing aboard from the stern.
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- Written by: Editor
What's the most common hunting violation?
Question: At the recent International Sportsmen's Exposition in Sacramento, I stopped by the California Sportsmen's Theater to hear the California Department of Fish and Wildlife leadership panel discussion.
During the presentation, I heard the chief of law enforcement say that the most common citation issued for fishing violations is fishing without a license.
This piqued my curiosity as to what the most commonly cited hunting violation is. (Steven P., Elk Grove)
Answer: Thank you for taking the time to stop by and hear the panel presentation at the show.
This question came up amongst a couple of wildlife officers recently who took a couple guesses before running the query to get the statistical facts.
They speculated that the most common hunting violation would be either hunter trespassing or having a loaded long gun in a motor vehicle. Both of these violations are far more common than they should be, since they both require a conscious decision and show a dangerous disregard for safety and ethics.
Ultimately, the statistics show the latter – having a loaded long gun in a vehicle – is the most common.
The vast majority of hunters and anglers are law abiding. Only a small percentage hunt or fish in violation.
In 2017, California wildlife officers issued 11,693 citations, 139 of which were for having a loaded rifle or shotgun in or on a vehicle.
This troubling reality is reckless and extremely dangerous to everyone in or around the vehicle.
Accidental firearm discharge within a vehicle will always have significant consequences – damage to property, loss of life, or both.
It is the goal of our hunter education program and department to see this senseless violation avoided. We encourage everyone to be sure to unload their firearms before climbing in or upon any vehicle to avoid risk of a tragedy, or at minimum, a citation.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, emailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . While they cannot answer every question, they will pick a few to answer each week in this column.
Question: At the recent International Sportsmen's Exposition in Sacramento, I stopped by the California Sportsmen's Theater to hear the California Department of Fish and Wildlife leadership panel discussion.
During the presentation, I heard the chief of law enforcement say that the most common citation issued for fishing violations is fishing without a license.
This piqued my curiosity as to what the most commonly cited hunting violation is. (Steven P., Elk Grove)
Answer: Thank you for taking the time to stop by and hear the panel presentation at the show.
This question came up amongst a couple of wildlife officers recently who took a couple guesses before running the query to get the statistical facts.
They speculated that the most common hunting violation would be either hunter trespassing or having a loaded long gun in a motor vehicle. Both of these violations are far more common than they should be, since they both require a conscious decision and show a dangerous disregard for safety and ethics.
Ultimately, the statistics show the latter – having a loaded long gun in a vehicle – is the most common.
The vast majority of hunters and anglers are law abiding. Only a small percentage hunt or fish in violation.
In 2017, California wildlife officers issued 11,693 citations, 139 of which were for having a loaded rifle or shotgun in or on a vehicle.
This troubling reality is reckless and extremely dangerous to everyone in or around the vehicle.
Accidental firearm discharge within a vehicle will always have significant consequences – damage to property, loss of life, or both.
It is the goal of our hunter education program and department to see this senseless violation avoided. We encourage everyone to be sure to unload their firearms before climbing in or upon any vehicle to avoid risk of a tragedy, or at minimum, a citation.
If you have a question for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, email
- Details
- Written by: California Department of Fish and Wildlife
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