I’m an experienced boater, why make
resolutions you ask?
Just remembering all of those rules is
really quite a task.
And so to set the record straight and
clear up the confusion,
Let me explain the reason for my New
Years resolutions.
I will turn on my blower, when I’m
running rather slow
'Cause CO is odorless and deadly, as you
know.
I’ll check flares and extinguishers,
especially the date.
Because in an emergency, there’s little
time to wait.
I wear a lightweight life jacket when
voyaging around,
Because in most fatalities, you’ll find
the victim drowned.
I’ll Vow to take a first aid class:
learn CPR and more
When the emergency’s on board, help’s
always on the shore
When pumping fuel into my boat I promise
to take care
Flying may be fun, but not when blown
into the air.
When setting my boat’s anchor, the
rode’ll be 7 to 1
‘Cause drifting on some muddy shoal is
really not much fun.
I’ll monitor my fuel, remembering the
rule of thirds
Endangering on empty, is much more than
absurd.
I’ll check the weather forecast and
always watch the sky
With rain you’re wet and soggy, but with
lightning you can die.
I’ll go into new waters with GPS ‘n
chart in hand
What looks like tawny water, Mate, could
actually be land.
There’s navigational hazards, pilings
and shoals you know.
And using local charts could save you an
expensive Tow.
When a person is in the water, my
engines I will stop
I wouldn't want to injure them with my
razor sharp prop.
And I will never use alcohol when I am
the skipper
For a Captain under the influence is as
dangerous as Jack the Ripper
I truly love cruising my boat and don’t
want one mistake.
But there are times when I forget about
my vessel’s wake.
In the spirit of the New Year I will
take time to pause.
Remembering the injuries and harm my
wake could cause
These are my resolutions with
appropriate explanations
To be a safer boater is high in my
expectations.
I’ll do things right and I’ll forget
past misdeeds and remorses.
Every boater needs United States Power
Squadron courses.
Happy and Safe New Year
Lt. Bill Hempel, P
Peace River Sail and Power Squadron
William Hempel is a featured writer
for the Sun Newspapers in Southern
Florida. He was the first recipient of
the United States Power Squadron’s
Ship’s Bell Award for significant public
relations and is a member of the
National Marketing and Public Relations
Committee.
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