Governor, Marine Patrol emphasize water safety during summer boating season

GILFORD — Gov. Kelly Ayotte wants visitors and residents alike to stay safe while having fun on the water this summer. 

“Please enjoy our lakes. Please get out there. It's a gorgeous day, but do it safely, and make sure that your family's safe, and that you have those moments together,” Ayotte said at Marine Patrol on Friday afternoon.

Ayotte commented on the beauty of the lakes, and their popularity in the summer. She said her family had a cottage in Meredith, and growing up, she worked at Shep Brown’s Boat Basin, now Goodhue Boat Company. The governor toured the New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol headquarters after her remarks. 

Marine Patrol Lt. Irwin Malilay offered safety tips for those on the water. He reminded everyone to stay sober, and boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is illegal and dangerous. He encouraged everyone to wear life jackets, and that children under the age of 13 are required by law to wear one approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. He said most powered watercraft require a fire extinguisher, sound devices and navigational lights. He asked boaters to mindful of other boats and swimmers in the water, and to stay at headway speed when within 150 feet of a boater, swimmer, the shoreline, or swimming area or dock. Headway speed is the slowest speed needed to steer a watercraft, no faster than 6 miles per hour.

“Last year alone, over 100,000 boats were registered in the state, and that doesn't even account for kayaks, paddle boards, canoes and other sailboats,” Malilay said. “When you add in swimmers, tubers and other recreational activities in the mix, in New Hampshire waterways get very busy during this time of year.”

He said last year, Marine Patrol covered 52 reportable accidents, three of which resulted in fatalities.

“We want to minimize those types of accidents, and a lot of those can be avoided by making sure that everyone's alert and aware as they're operating, both during the daytime and especially during the night,” Malilay said.

Marine Patrol officers will be out on the waterways this summer, including all inland waters and on the Seacoast. If an officer makes contact with a boater, they will perform safety equipment checks, and see that all boats are properly registered and certified. Any boaters who see a patrol boat with the lights on should stop, turn off any music, and pay attention to directions from the officer.

Malilay reminded the public about cold water safety. Heading into the summer season, Lake Winnipesaukee was only 52 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday. Especially in the late months of spring going into summer, water temperatures can be deceiving.

“We can have very nice, humid, warm weather above water. However, once you get immersed in the water, that's frigid. You're going to be immediately impacted by that type of temperature,” he said.

He suggested making a plan for these incidents, and to notify others about your whereabouts.

Jaime Laurent, co-chair of the board of trustees for the New Hampshire Boat Museum, said the organization is offering two safety classes for youth this year during Lake Discovery Family Days. A class on Wednesday, June 25, will highlight boating safety, and the class on Wednesday, July 16, is titled, “Does it Float?” The museum has locations in Moultonborough and Wolfeboro.

“Watch out for our Lake Discovery Days, and all made possible through the generosity of the industry you see behind you, and our New Hampshire Marine Patrol, and all those at the museum and staff putting it together to keep everyone safe this summer,” Laurent said.