The string of recent boating-related deaths and injuries in Maine should spur those who enjoy the water to learn more about how to protect themselves and others while enjoying one of Maine’s favorite pastimes. Canoeing, sailing, kayaking and motor-boating can be classic Maine summer pursuits, but water is deadly and these incidents serve as a reminder that here in Vacationland, we need to keep our heads in the game whenever out on the water.
In late July, a married couple in their 50s intending to enjoy an early-evening canoe ride off the coast near their summer home in Jonesport died from hypothermia after presumably capsizing. The husband was discovered with his arm wrapped around a lobster trap buoy on a nearby beach the next morning, and his wife was found floating in the water near an island. The Pennsylvania couple had spent many summers at their cabin in Jonesport and were experienced boaters, officials said. While they were wearing life vests, they were found in shorts and shirts, not a dry suit or wet suit that would have helped conserve body heat in the event of an accident, authorities pointed out.
In another boating tragedy around the same time, three boys were sent to the hospital for injuries after two motorboats carrying a total of 10 people collided on Thompson Lake in Oxford County. Five of the boaters were thrown from their boats, and one of three boys had to be flown to a hospital. Quick action by onlookers was said to have prevented further tragedy. While officials weren’t sure what caused the collision, a Department of Marine Resources official described the accident as one of the worst he’s seen.
In Scarborough, death and injury were averted on Aug. 3 when two kayakers encountered strong tides as they paddled under a railroad trestle on the Nonesuch River. A combination of 17-knot tidal currents and strong eddies created near pilings under the trestle created a situation that overturned the kayak and then pinned one of the kayakers against a piling. Luckily, Scarborough’s marine resource officer was taking water samples nearby and responded. While there, he saw two other kayakers struggling, as well. In all, four kayakers were rescued, one of whom was not wearing a life vest.
These three instances show that boating can turn deadly dangerous in a split second. This is especially true in Maine waters, which remain cold even in the height of summer. To go out on a boat without a life vest or proper attire and some knowledge about how to navigate or handle changing conditions is risking life and limb. To operate a boat, especially one with a powerful motor, with disregard for your own or others’ safety, is similarly reckless. These stories from various regions of Maine show clearly that boaters need to be aware of the power of ocean waves and currents, and that rivers and lakes provide similarly serious obstacles, such as submerged rocks and logs, as well as other boats and swimmers in close proximity.
If there’s one bit of advice to remember, it’s this quote from the American Boating Association, which urges people to get educated, just as they would if they were operating a motor vehicle: “Boater education prevents accidents and saves lives. Whether or not their state requires it, all boaters have a responsibility to learn about boat operation, communications, navigation and life-saving techniques before taking to the water. Statistics bear out what logic suggests – those without boater education put themselves and others at risk.”
But, beyond knowing the basics of boat safety – such as always wearing flotation devices, having a marine radio, knowing how to work a map and compass and having proper lights and horns – what always works is constant vigilance and awareness of your surroundings. This and a little common sense can go a long way in making times on Maine waters something fun and scenic.
–John Balentine, managing editor
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