‘Every voyage’: State urges New Yorkers to boat safely

RENSSELAER, N.Y. — Sheriffs, members of the Coast Guard and more convened at the Albany Yacht Club earlier this week to urge New Yorkers to follow boat safety practices as the weather warms.

“We talk about this every year because it’s important, especially for those that go out every year on these waters,” Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa said at the Thursday morning press conference. “The horror stories that we hear when people don’t do simple things that can save so many lives out here on this river.”

With the marina behind them and a slew of life jackets at the bottom of the podium, speakers walked through the threats and precautions boaters can and should take on the water. A personal boater himself, Figueroa said much of the tips they touched on were simply about being prepared.

Every speaker emphasized life jackets or personal flotation devices as one of the easiest and most important ways to keep everyone on or near the water safe. Drowning, said Alexi Howland Director of Marine Services at the NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Office, is still one of the leading causes of death in the state.

“While we can’t say for certain how many lives were saved through the wearing of a life jacket, we can certainly see the potential consequences of not wearing one,” she said. “One fatality is one too many.”

Sheriff Craig DuMond, president of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, said 83% of drowning fatalities in 2022 were not wearing life jackets and that drowning accounted for one out of every four of the 28 deaths that year. In New York State alone, there were 198 boating accidents.

2024 is also the final year of phasing in Brianna’s Law, a safety bill enacted in 2019 in honor of an 11-year-old killed in a Long Island boating accident in 2005. The law requires boaters to take safety courses to get a certificate before operating a motorboat.

Though it has slowly raised the age of those who are required to pass the courses — starting with those born after 1992 and slowly increasing to 1977 this year — on Jan. 1, 2025, all boaters will be required to have a boating safety certificate. The courses are available in-person and online and can be found at the Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation website parks.ny.gov.

“I understand that some experienced boaters may feel that this is unnecessary but I urge you to approach the course with an open mind,” Howland said, a reservist for the Coast Guard who spent several years on active duty. “I guarantee you’ll either learn something new or it will serve as a great refresher before the start of the season.”

Figueroa said all the captains out there are responsible for their boats and every single person on it. Before they leave they need to check everything from the weather to their communication devices.

“Also, listen to your fellow boaters,” he added, recommending any junior boaters to ask for advice or tips from the more seasoned. “I can’t stress the weather enough because anything can happen out there at any given time if you’re not paying attention to the weather and the currents. Trust me, I’ve been through it myself.”

It’s their responsibility to make sure the navigation system is working, that the first-aid kit is in-date and that everyone on board knows what to do in an emergency. He said he’s told his nieces and nephews the same thing so many times they can repeat it back to him.

It’s also important, he said, for them to have a plan about where they will be docking and when, and to have someone not with them know the plan as well. It’s critical to know when they need to send the Coast Guard out to start looking if someone hasn’t returned.

File a float plan too, he, Howland and others recommended. And never drink as the captain.

Safety must always be the top priority for anyone on the water, Commodore PJ Hunt of the Awanke Yacht Club in New Baltimore said Thursday. He thanked everyone present and the New York State Sheriff’s Association for reminding folks of that priority and keeping New York’s waters safe for his family.

“The Hudson River is beautiful, but it’s a powerful force and it’s our responsibility to navigate it with care and respect,” he said. “Together we should all commit to ensuring that every voyage is a safe one.”