Tellico Lake is nestled in the Foothills of the Smoky Mountains, located just 30 minutes southwest of Knoxville and only minutes from Maryville and Lenoir City, Tennessee. It consists of 15,860 acres of surface, 373 miles of shoreline and a 2,627 square miles watershed. No matter how much experience you have, it’s always a good idea for everyone to review boating safety rules and practices before hitting the lake. Below are a few safety tips to help you boat responsibly and enjoy lakefront living!
Take a Local Boating Course
New boaters and experienced experts alike need to be familiar with the boating rules of the road. A local non-profit organization, T-BART, is composed of volunteers from communities around Tellico Lake in both Loudon and Monroe counties in Tennessee. The organization works closely with the local city and county emergency response agencies to provide non-medical/non-emergency assistance to stranded boaters. T-BART is also active in promoting boating safety awareness by conducting free Lake Orientation seminars for people wanting more information about boating on Tellico Lake. These public seminars have been specifically tailored to topics relevant to the local community as well as boating organizations active on Tellico lake.
Get a Free Vessel Safety Check
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadrons offer complimentary boat examinations to verify the presence and condition of certain safety equipment required by state and federal regulations. Free of charge, they also offer virtual vessel exams. It is important for each boat operator the know the capabilities of their boat.
Follow a Pre-Departure Checklist
Utilizing a pre-departure checklist is a helpful way to check the boat and ensure the proper gear is onboard. If you will be out on the water after dark, check your navigation lights before you leave the dock or ramp.
Be Weather-Wise
Always check local, route and destination weather and water conditions before departure and ensure it is safe to go out on your boat and lake toys. And always adjust your speed for the conditions – if it is rough or visibility is low, slow down!
Use Common Sense
Operate at a safe speed at all times (especially in crowded areas), stay alert and steer clear of large vessels and watercraft that can be restricted in their ability to stop or turn. Be a defensive boat operator by creating distance from other boats creating more reaction time. Know the right-of-ways and how to signal your intentions in emergency situations.
Know the Nautical Rules of the Road
Maintain a proper lookout and be respectful of buoys and other navigational aids, all of which have been placed there to ensure your safety and the safety of the boats around you.
Designate an Assistant Skipper
Make sure more than one person onboard is familiar with all aspects of the boat’s handling, operations, and general boating safety, in case the primary operator is incapacitated and someone else needs to get the boat back to shore.
Avoid Alcohol
Operating a boat while intoxicated is illegal. Nearly half of all boating accidents involve alcohol—Enjoy East Tennessee’s beautiful waterways but please have a designated sober driver.
Make Proper Use of Life Jackets
Assign and fit each member of your onboard team with a life jacket prior to departure. Regulations vary by state but children under 16 and all watersports riders should wear a life jacket on the water.
Develop a Float Plan
Whether you choose to inform a family member or staff at your local marina, let someone else know where you’re going and how long you’re going to be gone. A float plan can include the following information: name, address, and phone number of trip leader and passengers; boat type and registration information; trip itinerary; and, types of communication and signal equipment onboard, such as an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).
Stay Clear of the Engine
Drivers should wear the boat’s engine cut-off switch lanyard at all times. Keep watch around the propeller area when people are in the water. Never allow passengers to board or exit your boat from the water when engines are on—or idling. Take extra precautions near boats towing skiers or tubers.
In addition to making sure your boat equipment is in compliance with state law, make sure you are familiar with laws regarding boat operation. Remember: Any Tennessee resident born after January 1, 1989 must show the TWRA-issued wallet Boating Safety Education Certificate as proof of successful completion of the TWRA Boating Safety exam. The Tennessee mandatory boating education law is similar to the driver’s license law. The certification is not required if there is an adult (18 years old or older) on board to take immediate control of the vessel. However this adult, if born after January 1, 1989, must have the boating education certification.
Posted by Sam Allen, Lakefront Living, On The Lake Realty”