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SLOCUM TWP. — The summer boating season has gotten off to a tragic start.
With the peak season for boating activity just getting underway, there have already been eight boating-related fatalities across the state. Considering the average number of fatalities over the last 10 years is 11.9 annually and the bulk of summer still to go, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission officials are concerned.
“People really underestimate the power of water and they overestimate their own abilities,” said Waterways Conservation Officer Aaron Lupacchini, who patrols part of Luzerne County. “Fatalities are definitely up right now, and unfortunately the boating season has just begun.”
Most of the fatalities involved kayaks, partly due to the fact that more people are using them. Agency spokesman Eric Levis said kayaks represent the fastest-growing segment of all launch permits issued by the PFBC every year.
Six of the eight fatalities this year involved kayaks, yet Levis said that doesn’t necessarily mean the craft is more dangerous.
“It’s more about taking the proper safety courses, practicing and knowing the force of water and how fast it’s going,” he said.
Of the eight fatalities, three occurred in April and the rest in May. Lupacchini said the mild winter allowed boaters to hit the water earlier this year, increasing the risk of cold water immersion.
But there are plenty of other factors that come into play with boating fatalities. Lupacchini said operator inexperience, failure to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) and alcohol are also contributing causes.
In fact, the number one violation that Lupacchini encounters during the summer boating season is people not having enough PFD’s on board. A serviceable PFD is required for each person aboard any type of boat, all children 12 and under must wear a life jacket on any boat 20 feet in length or less, and everyone must wear a PFD on boats less than 16 feet in length, plus all canoes and kayaks, from Nov. 1 through April 30.
Of the eight fatalities this year, five of the victims weren’t wearing life jackets.
“That’s a big problem,” Lupacchini said. “Also, I often encounter people that grabbed old life jackets out of their basement and figured that was good enough. It’s not. They have to be in good condition and serviceable. It’s not worth the risk to take something that might not work.”
Levis said WCOs across the state will spend more time on the water checking for safety issues and monitoring for boating under the influence.
While none of the fatalities this year have occurred in the northeast, there are numerous lakes and the Susquehanna River that serve as popular destinations for boaters.
Lupacchini, whose district includes Lily Lake, Nuangola Lake and the Francis E. Walter Dam, said 80 percent of his patrol time this summer will be spent dealing with boaters. Most of the issues stem from recreational boaters as opposed to anglers, he added.
“Don’t take the water for granted. Regardless of your experience take a boating safety course,” Lupacchini said. “I’ve encountered people with more than 20 years of boating experience doing something incorrect, but they felt it was fine because that’s how they always did it.
“A lot of the time with boating safety it’s just an education and awareness issue.”
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