Captain's Corner

The boating season is upon us with the warm weather fast approaching. I know that we all want to hook up the boat, grab the family and run off to the lake to water recreation and good times. We also need to think about the safety of our friends and family.

I see people every weekend with their boats broken down or their trailer parked alongside the road due to a lack of planning. I am seeing people at the lakes receiving hundreds of dollars in citations because they leave items at the house or just do not know the rules of the road.

Before we leave the house, let's make sure our trailer is ready for that trip - check the air pressure in your tires, are the bearings greased, do the lights work?

Let's do the same thing with our boat - is the battery charged, full tank of gas, how long has it been since you had it at the lake? Be prepared so that nothing goes wrong.

Do you have a boaters check list? They provide these free at West Marine, or take a boating class with the Game and Fish, Phoenix Power Squadron, or Coast Guard Auxiliary.

How about old, outdated equipment on your boat? We are going to do our part on Saturday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at our local lakes. Arizona Game and Fish is sponsoring a life-jacket exchange.

Is yours worn out, torn, or faded? We will have a new one for you. I personally will be at Saguaro Lake - stop by, let me check your life jacket and your boat.

Have you had a Vessel Safety Check from the Coast Guard Auxiliary? What a great way to find out if you have all the safety gear aboard before you hit the water. It only takes a few minutes to make sure that your family is safe and your boat is properly equipped. Hope to see you there.