Boating on a river can be fun but dangerous. Boaters need to keep in mind water levels, hidden hazards hiding under the murky waters, and boating safety.
Boating on a river is quite different from boating on the sea, a lake, or a pond. The river current changes daily due to the rising and falling water levels. Tree limbs and rocks can lie two feet under the surface and boat drivers cannot see them until they run into them. In addition, if the river is a popular destination, there are other people motoring around who could be inebriated or not paying attention to other watercraft.
Prop Guards Help in Murky Water to Protect Skiers and Boats
Many times the prop on an outboard motor can be damaged after the boat leaves the boat ramp from the changing water level or from trees or rocks lodged in the path of the boat.
It is best to have a second prop or a prop guard so that weekends are not ruined from these hazards. Steel props can be welded or fixed if they are damaged. Prop guards come in plastic and stainless steel. A propeller guard is a security feature and an inexpensive way to protect the propeller, engine and boat from damage and high repair bills.
Protecting skiers and swimmers from a rotating propeller is difficult on pleasure boats. Using guards will reduce speed somewhat, but the safety factor is more important. A reduction in top speed of approximately 5% was recorded in test-runs using a 16' runabout with a 75HP outboard motor.
- An outboard motor running at 3200 RPM equipped with a 3-blade propeller will strike an object 160 times per second.
- A boat moving forward at high speed, will first impact with a body by the lower unit of the motor possibly causing fractures to limbs. Serious injuries could be caused by the rotating propeller blades outer edges.
Skegs Can Be Sheared Off By Debris, But They Are Now Fixable
A skeg is the ruter of the outboard unit. This piece can be sheared off by a submerged log or hidden hazard. Now there is a another way to repair the lower unit skeg damage. Simply bolt on a skeg guard right over the damaged skeg. It's quick, easy, and stronger than the original, so it protects the skeg and propeller from future damage.
Some boat enthusiasts suggest checking with the local boat repair shop. These shops usually offer a repair service at a modest price. Sometimes the boat mechanic will weld in a small piece, or he will cut off the lower part and weld a smaller part on to the outboard unit. Some boaters find that the skeg guards work better to prevent damage than to repair them.
Follow Boating Laws for the River
It is important to understand the boating laws because fines or jail time can result if rules are not followed. Rivers are generally governed or patrolled by a state agency, such as the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Watercraft. If a river is considered to be "federal waters," boaters need to comply with all Coast Guard requirements.
Basic rules are as follows:
- Keep to the right of the river when other watercraft are in the river
- Use idle speed for No Wake Zones or "idle speed" areas
- Give the right-of-way to vessels if the watercraft is leaving a dock, slip, tie-up or mooring
- Don't drive drunk or Boat Under the Influence (BUI). It can kill passengers or others on the water. And, it is a crime. Many crashes involve a fatality of one or more victims. A fun day on the river can be had without alcohol.
More river rules and regulations can be found on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website.
