As Mainers near Memorial Day and the unofficial start of the summer recreational boating season, the Maine Marine Patrol provides the following reminders for a safe, enjoyable experience on Maine's coastal waters:

Wear a Life Jacket

• In Maine, all children 10 and under must wear a life jacket. Adults don't have to wear them, but they must be available on board for every occupant.
• The latest U.S. Coast Guard statistics show 81 percent of boating fatalities were due to drowning, and that 83 percent of those who drowned were not wearing life jackets.
• New life jackets are much more comfortable, lightweight, and stylish than the bulky orange style most boaters know. There are innovative options, such as inflatable life jackets, allowing mobility and flexibility for activities like boating, fishing, paddling, or hunting, and are much cooler in the warmer weather.

Check Your Boat and Gear

• Safe boaters should also have working navigation lights, visual distress signals, sound signaling devices, VHF radio, cell phone, proper ventilation, and properly displayed registration numbers.
• A thorough check of fire extinguishers and flares should be completed to ensure they are not expired and will function properly.

Plan Before You Go

• Always check the local marine forecast before heading out on Maine's coastal waters.
• Boaters should file a float plan with a friend or relative, letting them know where you are going and when you plan to return.

Paddle Safe

• Kayakers, canoeists, and paddle boarders should always wear a life jacket.
• Bring a hand-held VHF radio and a cell phone in a waterproof case.
• Carry signaling devices (whistle, mirror, flares) in a pocket of your life jacket.
• A personal locator beacon will relay your precise location to rescue agencies if you're in distress.
• Kayakers should always carry a paddle float and bilge pump.
• With ocean temperatures in many places less than 50 degrees, paddlers should dress for the water temperature and consider wearing a dry suit or a wet suit. Warm temperatures can be misleading; the ocean is often 30-40 degrees colder than the air temperature.
• Place a sticker on smaller craft like kayaks, canoes, and paddle boards, with contact information including a name and phone number.
  • “IF-FOUND” stickers are available at both Marine Patrol and Warden Service offices and headquarters.
  • If Marine Patrol, Warden Service, or the Coast Guard locates a vessel with nobody on board, they can call the number on the sticker and confirm whether the owner is missing, potentially avoiding a costly and unnecessary search and rescue operation.

Don't Boat Under the Influence

• Another important safety issue is drinking and boating.
• According to Coast Guard statistics, alcohol is a leading contributor in deadly boating accidents.
• Environmental stressors such as sun, wind, noise, and the movement of the boat while on the water intensify the effects of alcohol or drug use.
• Boaters can become impaired more quickly on the water than on land.
• Operating a boat with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher is against the law in Maine. BUI laws pertain to all vessels, from rowboats and kayaks to the largest ships.
• Marine Patrol will prosecute people who are under the influence while operating a boat.