Boater safety courses are offered year round through Fish Wildlife and Parks and the Auxillary Coast Guard, but officials want to reiterate the importance of safe boating with the holiday weekend fast approaching.

Auxiallary Coast Guard Member Carl Hutchinson says, "On the Fourth of July, you can almost walk across the lake on the boats these days and things that are even more important than usual to pay attention. You may know the rules of the road, but there are lots and lots of boaters out there who don't. So you really have to boat defensively."

Hutchinson says a lot of the same rules apply to water crafts as they do cars and people need to be responsible. "The rules on alcohol are the same as they are on the road and the consequences you gotta remember, boats dont have breaks, so thats one less thins you can do to avoid a collision that you might be able to do if you were sharp enough on the highway. So be really careful."

By law, your boat is required to carry safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and navigation lights. But the most important thing is a personal flotation device for each passenger on board because as the coast guard says, 'The life jacket your wearing is the one that will save your life, Not the one on the boat.'"

So to ensure you have an enjoyable time out on the water, bring some water and sunscreen and use common sense to avoid any unnecessary headaches.

For more information on boater safety, visit the Fish Wildlife and Parks website for the online hand book.
http://www.boat-ed.com/mt/handbook/toc.htm