Boating safety

Originally published in the Ketchikan Daily News, May 2014; written by Lisa Pearson.

Summer has come to Ketchikan, and being island folk, we are taking to the water in droves. Between kayak trips across Harriet Hunt Lake, Wednesday sailboat regatta nights and the upcoming King Salmon Derby, there are plenty of opportunities for fun and plenty of reasons to practice safe boating. In fact, May 17-23 is National Safe Boating Week, and the public library has many different resources to help you be a better boater.

Part of being a responsible mariner is knowing the rules of the road and how to navigate. Besides the traditional titles like The American Practical Navigator by Nathianel Bowditch, which was originally published in 1802, we have books on GPS for mariners, piloting and seamanship. We also have nautical charts of the area waters and a great book called Exploring Southeast Alaska: Dixon Entrance to Skagway by Don Douglass and Reanne Hemingway-Douglass. This helpful resource gives GPS waypoints, chart reference numbers and anchor sites and details for every harbor and cove in the Inside Passage.

Kayakers may not be interested in mooring sites, but learning safety skills for sea kayaking is easy with resources from the library. We have lots of DVDs and books on kayaking techniques and safety fundamentals. Once you feel comfortable on the water, check out one of our local kayaking guides - like “Guide to sea kayaking in southeast Alaska : the best day trips and tours from Misty Fjords to Glacier Bay” by Jim Howard - to plan your trip.

For commercial fishermen, pilots and mariners, boating safety is especially important. We have training videos on rescues at sea, conducting onboard emergency drills, using immersion suits, flooding control and liferaft survival packs. We also have books on cold water survival, fishing vessel stability, safe work practices and first aid, such as “Beating the odds on northern waters : a guide to fishing safety” by Susan Clark Jensen.

Sailors have an added set of challenges besides unpredictable weather and tricky piloting. Whether you’re an experienced member of the Yacht Club or if you’re gearing up for your first trip under sail, hone your techniques and vessel handling skills with our videos and books on rigging, sail trim, heavy weather sailing and sailboat navigation. We have a very handy 4-volume DVD set based on the Annapolis book of seamanship produced by Bennett Marine Video.

When you start teaching your kids about boating, safety should be the first lesson. Titles such as “Essential boating for teens” by Luke Thompson and “Hook, line & seeker : a beginner's guide to fishing, boating, and watching water wildlife” by Jim Arnosky are great ways to introduce young boaters to the fun. If you are the parent of a Schoenbar student, you may also be interested in the 4-volume set “Surviving outdoor adventures: a curriculum for training young people to be safe in the outdoors and near cold water” by Marian Allen.

Whatever your boating preferences and experience level may be, we have resources that will help you make your time on the water safer and more enjoyable. Remember, the most important piece of equipment in your boat isn’t your fish finder; it’s your float coat.