May 24, 2019

Boating Safety Tips For Memorial Day Weekend

With Memorial Day coming up on Monday, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has got a few helpful tips for you to make sure you stay safe over the holiday.

The DNR knows that many Minnesotans love to get out on the lake for the holiday, but they urge you to wear life jackets no matter the temperature of the water, but it’s especially important this time of the year when the water is still so cold.  Water temperatures across the state are generally around the 50-degree range, which is cold enough to put the body into shock.

Lisa Dugan, a boating safety representative with the DNR says that if you do happen to find yourself in the water to keep calm instead of panicking and to call for help before hypothermia has a chance to set in.

The DNR would also like to remind all boaters to inspect their watercraft and gear and make sure to review the Minnesota boating regulations on their website, as well as having a mechanical inspection to check for potential carbon monoxide leaks.

All boats should be equipped with all of the following:

  • U.S. Coast Guard-approved wearable life jackets for each person onboard (children under 10 must wear a properly fitting life jacket while underway).
  • A throwable flotation device on boats 16 feet or longer.
  • A horn or a whistle.
  • Type B, U.S. Coast Guard-approved fire extinguisher.
  • Navigation lights in working order.
  • Valid boat registration, with numbers visible.

If your watercraft aren’t registered yet, you can register them in person at any deputy registrar of motor vehicles, at the DNR License Center in St. Paul, or online at the DNR’s website.

Thank You Underwriters

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