A big advantage of the end-of-season Boat Smart wrap-up, it provides me the opportunity to get input from my fellow chiefs and operations folks at Group Grand Haven on how recreational boaters fared from the top of Lake Michigan near Leland Harbor to Michigan City, Indiana. That’s a lot of shoreline plied by a lot of boaters.

So, how did boaters do? Well, according to Coast Guard search and rescue case numbers, not badly. Along the entire length of the Lake and navigable lakes that connect to Lake Michigan, Group Grand Haven personnel performed 951 search and rescue missions. Considering the million or so boaters that ply these waters throughout the boating season, these low figures speak well of recreational boaters. What also speaks well of recreational boaters is that in 1,863 vessel inspections (boardings) that Coast Guard personnel conducted, most boaters passed with flying colors. This could explain why the Coast Guard conducted only 951 search and rescue missions.

Those boaters who may find Coast Guard boardings intrusive may now understand that reducing the need for Coast Guard assistance is the driving force behind vessel inspections. There’s just too much evidence confirming that well equipped, well informed, and well mannered boaters are safe boaters. Who could dispute that? I certainly can’t, not after 25 years in this business. Nor can I ignore the fact that since 1972 when Congress passed the Boating and Safety Act, requiring safety equipment, manufacturer safety standards, and state boating education, the amount of fatalities per 100,000 recreational boating accidents plunged from 20 to 4. Even Pollyanna might open her eyes to these revealing figures.

What can drive down these figures even further are life jackets. On this my fellow chiefs up and down the coast agree. Just give our crews the opportunity to get there before gravity takes its deadly toll. I know you’re tired of our life jacket diatribes but we’re tired even more of addressing the next of kin. Nine boaters lost their life this season in our area, all were not wearing life jackets.

Okay, that somber message passed, let’s give huge kudos to the boaters who adopted Channel 09 as their calling frequency rather than Channel 16, the emergency hailing and distress frequency. Radio operators at Coast Guard Group Grand Haven noted a significant decrease in boaters hailing over Channel 16 which significantly enhanced Group’s ability to hear emergency calls. Great job boaters, it certainly reinforces my heart-felt- belief that Lake Michigan boaters are unequaled in upholding maritime safety. Of course, there’s always those handful of disregards.

Especially those disregards who threatened the maritime community by broadcasting false MAYDAY calls. Group Grand Haven Operations Center received 32 false maydays calls this season costing tax payers over $37,000, worse yet, these senseless calls tie up CG resources that may be needed elsewhere. Group Grand Haven personnel saved 28 lives this season, fortunately they were nearby to assist those in dire need and not far off on some brainless hoax call.

Group Grand Haven Stations covered many marine events that ranged from Forth of July fireworks to national offshore power boat races. In all, Group Grand Haven provided security for 58 marine events from Frankfort to Michigan City, most of which required a safety zone between spectator and event. Although most boaters understand the need for safety demarcations it seems there is always that renegade. Understand, we’re not out there to beat up on renegades, but to assure that renegades don’t beat up on boaters, or interrupt or worse yet cancel the event.

Often alcohol fuels the renegade mentality, which can be costly to the imbiber. Coast Guard Group Grand Haven station personnel processed, 21 "under the influence" cases. Many boaters don’t realize that the Coast Guard can and will remove impaired boaters from the water. This infraction draws heavy finds ($1,150) and in some cases incarceration. Let there be no doubt, if we discover a boater operating under the influence of drugs or alcohol we will detain and ticket.

And now a word for the Coast Guard’s unsung heros: the Aids to Navigation folks (ATON). Without these guys and gals boaters would be lost. I know I would be. The aids have safety guided me into port at night untold times. To keep navigational lights blinking, horns blaring, and gongs and bells clanging requires around-the-clock vigilance. When a boater calls the Coast Guard regarding an aid not working guess who’s there fixing it within hours if not minutes regardless of time, day, or weather?

So what does this have to do with the end-of-season report? A great deal. Many of the aids that boaters depend on are currently being removed by Group Grand Haven’s ATON folks. If not, winter ice will maul them into scrap. So, until the First of December, crewmen aboard the 49-foot ATON boat will be plucking from the water familiar lighted aids and replacing them with winter marks (see Local Notice to Mariners for locations). These aids reside in Lake Michigan, inland rivers and lakes, from Point Betsie to Michgian City. Not fun work when winter winds are howling and ice-cold waters gnaw away at deck crews. Some buoys weight as much as one-and-half tons, that’s a lot of weight to deal with aboard a 49-foot boat with only a 25-foot by 12-foot working deck manned by 5 coasties.

So, while the rest of us might be biting into a warm Thanksgiving turkey leg, they could be getting chewed up by arctic like winds. For their schedule is dictated not by convention but by weather opportunity. And in Spring they reverse the process as they replant the aids.

The most cruel adversary, however, is not nature but mankind. Those who deface fixed aids, damage buoys, or spray pant lighthouses, needlessly add to our ATON folks already overworked schedule. I would like to end this end-of-season report by pleading with boaters and the public at large to help us stop reckless minds from having their way with your property and safety. Call us. Until next spring make ready to boat smart. See you then and thanks for boating smart.