Safety

Just a safety reminder to us all. This appeared in our local newspaper.

A St. Louis-area man was flown to a Columbia hospital early Saturday after he was injured in a boat explosion on Lake of the Ozarks, according to the Missouri Water Patrol.

Donald Black, 63, of Valley Park, suffered serious injuries in the 8:50 a.m. explosion at a dock at Toad Cove. He had finished fueling his boat and turned on the ignition when the explosion occurred.
Black, who jumped in the water to escape, was flown to University Hospital in Columbia for treatment of burns.

Remember for one minute before starting, especially after re-fuelling and when idling, have your bilge blower on.

Play safe and have fun on the water.

Up here in Canada the Coast Guard recommends the blower be on for 4 minutes. Good reminder though as there always seems to be a few of these tragic accidents each year that most of the time can be avoided with a little common sense and knowledge.

Run the engine compartment blower for at least four minutes immediately before starting the gasoline engine

On the dash of my Gull Wing, there is a tag screwed in plain view saying that the vessel is fitted with a "Bilge Blower" and to turn on the blower for 4 minutes before starting.

Bruce.

It is a shame to hear of trajedies as such. Especially when they are so easily avoidable.

duly noted and thank you ..heres another safety tip ..3 weeks ago on the california coast a group of four men were salmon fishing in the ocean not far from shore on a reletively calm day when a large roller hit the boat and capsized it. tragically all four men perished in the 56 degree water as hypothermia set in and they were unable to swim to shore or hang on to the capsized vessel . the coast guard reported that all four men could have survived had they simply worn life jackets . so when practicing all of your safety techniques while boating please wear your life preserver. even if you think you look like a dork, it will save your life , accidents happen in the blink of an eye and usually no time to dig your lifejacket out of the storage compartment before youre in the drink . safe boating to all you guys and may all your days of boating end happily and never tragically...dimitri

The self-inflating CO2 vests are becoming very popular up here especially for fishermen as they allow freedom of movement and you lose the dorky look!