Article by Peter A.Roos
May is Boating Safety Month
Please exercise the same caution on the water as you would on a motorcycle. Pinellas County is home to more licensed watercraft than any other community its size in the world. With our weather, our geography and our place in boating history, it makes sense that would be the case.
Florida law requires drivers be licensed before they can drive. You wouldn’t think of leaving your driveway without having enough instruction that you feel completely comfortable in control of a car.
Recent mishaps in Tampa Bay show that even very experienced captains operating top quality equipment in an area they know well can have accidents. Those mishaps can have tragic, even deadly consequences.
Paradise NEWS takes seriously its responsibility to encourage boating safety. We have been encouraging readers to take a boating safety course before setting foot in a boat, even for experienced boaters who have relocated here.
We accept and publish articles provided by the US Coast Guard and The St. Petersburg Sail And Power Squadron about boating safety and encourage fishermen to fish with a charter captain until they are totally comfortable on their own.
Paradise NEWS has also been proud to help promote SEATOW – Tampa Bay over the past couple of years. We know what a comfort it is to boaters when the inevitable happens. In these days of Ethanol in the gas, it is only a matter of time before something gets gunked up and the engine won’t start.
Consider this review from the Sea Tow Website.
“Yesterday morning, I went fishing and I promised my wife I would be back by noon to attend a function. The trip was uneventful until we were finished at our last spot and the engine would not turn over.
I called Sea Tow and Captain Dave talked me through a couple of quick troubleshooting steps and when that proved fruitless, said he would be underway shortly.
My location wasn’t very far, but nonetheless- he arrived very quickly. I believe he was on site by 11:05. He was very professional with an easy-going and amicable personality. The tow went perfectly and quickly. Once he got me back into my slip at the marina – he even took a few extra minutes to help me diagnose my issue (a neutral safety switch that needed adjustment).
I get the safety and convenience of towing when I need it, quick and courteous service with a smile AND a Captain that took the extra time to help me diagnose the problem with my boat? Yes, please! I’ll never be without my Sea Tow membership again.” – Scott Kinnebrew”
Water Safety Certification Course
Become an American Red Cross Certified WSI in just 5 days! This course will prepare you to become an American Red Cross certified swim instructor. This is a blended learning course, combining online study and in class/pool work. Your certification will be valid for 2 years. Participants must be at least 16 years or older.
More information contact the St. Pete Beach Aquatic Center at 727-363-9245 of visit our website www.spbrec.com.
Vessel Recovery
Vessel Recovery services will typically be billed on a time and material (T&M) basis or under a flat fee structure. Many of the same methods and equipment will be employed during the vessel recovery as would be in a salvage situation. Great care is taken to protect lives, property and the environment.
Besides the host of typical on-water assistance services Sea Tow provides, Sea Tow franchisees offer a host of other services for your vessel recovery needs. They can help whether your vessel has blown off its mooring, sank at the dock or ran aground high and dry.
Sea Tow Franchisees maintain special equipment and training that enables them to efficiently recover your vessel while preventing any further damage, therefore preserving the value of your vessel and hopefully limiting the repairs, which will get you back on the water quicker.
A Sea Tow Salvage and Recovery “toolbox” includes a variety of gas and electric pumps, enclosed flotation pillows (airbags), air compressors, divers and diver gear, rigging straps and other miscellaneous rigging equipment, trucks, trailers, patching material and pneumatic tools for use underwater.
To protect the environment they employ oil absorbent materials and an oil containment boom. Sea Tow operators also maintain relationships with subcontractors for most any other equipment that may be needed, not to mention local marinas that can provide vessel haul-outs and repairs.