Having been out so many times on the water, it is possible for a sense of familiarity
to dull the care which should always be taken over safety measure for the day. It's human and accidents happen.
Accidents happen to all sorts of boats and to all sorts of people and sometimes even when the greatest care has been taken to avoid an accident. For instance a father and his young son were paddling in their kayak when they were stuck by a motorboat pulling a water skier. The young boy was killed. This is one of the causes of boating fatalities and is repeated in the list below.
Drinking and driving cause one fifth of all boating accidents. There is no law that says you may not drink and steering your boat at the same time. A boat may weight 5 tonnes and have no brakes.
Alcohol and speed on the water are another contributory cause to accidents
Boating collisions. These can be avoided especially now when you can brush up on your navigation skills online on courses offered by the United States Coast Guard.
Having navigation lights on your boat which do not work.
Hitting channel/navigation markers
Not being prepared sufficiently, especially with regard to life jackets or personal flotation devices. These are designed today to extremely high standards and are not costly.
Tubing or water-skiing too close to pilings
Being swamped by high waves.
Colliding with a buoy
Not following boating guidelines, like putting out dive buoys and dive flags when scuba diving is taking place.
It is clear that even if one boat owner follows all guidelines, he may be at risk of being hit by another who does not.
Draw up a 'risk and safety assessment' for your days out. As each one is checked, tick its box. And remember, get yourself and all your passengers wearing their life jackets. This is the best way to avoid boating accidents.