National Safe Boating Week: How to stay safe on the James River and anywhere else

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- With warmer weather and sunny skies, more and more people are getting on the water. But it's important for you to do so safely.  

May 17 through May 23 is National Safe Boating Week, and the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is sharing what supplies to have on deck to be as safe as possible.

Safety supplies include Coast Guard approved life vests, a Coast Guard approved throwable device, working navigation lights on from sunset to sunrise and when visibility is restricted, an engine cut-off device, a current state decal with registration numbers, fire extinguisher, sound producing devices, visual distress signals and a backfire flame arrestor.

Anyone operating a boat with 10 horsepower or greater, is required to have completed a DWR approved and accepted safety course. 

Lieutenant Joshua Thomas with the DWR said the most important thing to have onboard is a personal floatation device, or life vest, for every person on the boat.

“We’re probably some of the best swimmers out here--we still wear PFDs on the water," Thomas said.   

The DWR said there were 17 boating deaths on Virginia waters in 2024. Sixteen of the victims were not wearing a life vest.  

The recommendation is to wear a life vest the entire time while on a boat. There are sizes for everyone, down to an infant.  

“Any size you can think of," Thomas said. "And that’s one of the main things if you end up in the water to make sure the PFD fits you and is not gonna fall off.”  

Thomas said it's important to have one on before the chance you fall in the water, because it can be hard to get one on once you’re already in.

Before you leave shore, always tell someone where you’re going and when you think you’ll be back.  

“That way if something does happen, we know where to go look for you," he said.  

It's also smart to check weather and tide conditions before heading out. The DWR recommends NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.  

Lots of boating laws are similar to the laws of the road.

When it comes to alcohol consumption on the water, it’s not illegal to do so, but you must have a designated boat driver whose blood alcohol level isn’t above .08. Thomas said the boating under the influence law pretty much mirrors the DUI law.

“The captain of each boat is responsible for all the passengers on that boat, making sure they have the safety equipment and making sure that there’s no reckless operation," he said.  

Also similar to the roads, it is law for vessels operating within 200 feet of an emergency boat with flashing red or blue lights to reduce speed to no wake.  

“The captain of each boat is responsible for all the passengers on that boat, making sure they have the safety equipment and making sure that there’s no reckless operation," he said.  

For Lt. Thomas, practicing safe boating is more than just a job.  

“In my free time, I’m out here on the water with my family and I wanted to make sure that the outdoors were a safe place for my family and everybody else," he said.  

The checklist of everything you need on your specific boat can be found here on the DWR website.