Anyone who spends time on the water knows how quickly accidents happen. Fortunately, most of these mishaps and misadventures are less than serious, and we happily turn them into the funny stories that rowers and other boaters love to tell and retell. I’ve been driving around in outboard motorboats since I was five, so I’ve accumulated plenty of these stories, about myself and my coaching colleagues.

The one I tell most often happened when I was trying to re-start a conked-out motor while in a fit of frustration. Angry, I yanked on the starter cord. Unbeknownst to me, the engine was in gear (back in the day when you could do that). The boat lurched forward, tossing me over the side. I still remember the sensation of flying through the air and landing, seat first, in the water. It could have been a disaster, but I was lucky. There were two students in the launch with me, and they quickly stopped the engine. If they hadn’t, the boat could easily have run over me. A safety feature of outboard engines makes the handle swing over to starboard when no one is steering. This causes a driverless boat to circle continuously, which keeps the boat from driving off into the sunset but is dangerous for the person in the water.

In spite of this and many other misadventures, I have never worn a life jacket while coaching. Sadly, last fall one of my rowers lost her son in a boating accident. That was my wakeup call. In January, I purchased my first PFD. The biggest decision was whether to spend the extra money for a flotation device that would inflate automatically rather than manually. After much thought, I decided my life was worth the extra $50. (Funny, isn’t it, how we can let money influence potentially life-or-death decisions.)
 
The second change I’ve made, for the first time in my 35-year coaching career, is to use the red kill-switch cord that is attached to the tiller or gear box in coaching launches. Its function is to shut down the motor when something catastrophic happens to the operator. My question is, how many of you have ever seen the cord attached to the driver? At my Florida clinics this winter, I attached the kill-switch cord to my body every time we went out. I adapted the cord by tying a length of thin line to its end, giving me the freedom of movement I need to coach.
 
The third safety action I’ve taken this year was to complete an online Florida boat safety course. Even though I had been certified by the Coast Guard Auxiliary several years ago, I decided a review would be prudent. Boating safety rules and regulations vary from state to state. To find an online course for your state, go to: www.boat-ed.com. There is a fee – payable AFTER you successfully complete the course.

Before going out in a launch, it is always wise to review safety measures and action steps so they are fresh in your mind. It is also a good idea to teach your passengers what to do in the event of an emergency. I always ask if they can swim and teach them how to shut the engine off.

Finally, if you are coaching in cold water situations, I urge you to purchase an immersion suit. In addition to providing built-in floatation, this type of suit is the warmest gear I know of for coaching during the cold spring weather in the Northeast. Mustang sells a “survival coverall” that is Coast Guard approved. Go to:  www.defender.com.

In my research, I have learned that about 70 percent of all boating fatalities are a result of drowning. Most of those fatalities could have been avoided, as drowning is rare when boaters are wearing an appropriate PFD – 90 percent of drowning victims were not. Remember, it’s not enough to buy a PFD and carry it with you. You’ve got to wear it. Here’s another tip: PFDs are easier to put on when you’re on dry land than in the water.

Please, be safe.

Mayrene T. Earle, M.Ed., is founder of MastersCoaching. She conducts camps and clinics for masters rowers around the world. She also provides coaching for coaches and offers Erg Inspiration classes by phone. Contact Mayrene at mayrene@masterscoaching.com . Copyright 2009 © Mayrene T. Earle. All rights reserved.