Living in Austin means that one day, if you’re lucky, you may be invited to the lake with a friend or co-worker who owns a boat. For people who have lived in and around the Ausitn area this is second nature and not something for extended contemplation, but for those who are not familiar with the water and the etiquette of sorts that accompanies such a trip it can be a huge learning experience. This goes along with the theme of not only living in Austin but also living the Austin lake life. This is what I would describe as a laid back attitude that people in Austin take about going about day to day tasks. Because there is so much to do indoors and out in this great city of ours.

Recently, I had an opportunity to accompany my mother-in-law to a United States Power Squadron Partner in Command class near Lake Travis. This class is all about how to assist the driver and in an emergency take command of the boat. As I sat in the class it became apparent to me that if I was learning at least a few things from this class then I should share some of it with everyone else who hasn’t had a chance to go. And possibly help them out in case they are invited to go boating on one of the Highland Lakes chain. In case you aren’t sure the lakes included in this chain of lakes are: Buchanan, Inks, LBJ, Marble Falls, Travis and Lake Austin.

On to the good stuff. Here are the top 5 things I learned.

1. Children younger than 13 MUST wear a life jacket (PFD: personal flotation device) while away from the dock.
2. Before you leave the dock the driver of the boat should educate everyone on the boat where the safety equipment is located and how to essentially operate the boat (or at least stop it) in case the driver is somehow incapacitated in some fashion while on the water.
3. It is a good idea to pack an emergency kit with first aid items, water, and extra keys to the boat and your car.
4. If boating alone make sure to tell someone where you plan on being and when you plan on returning.
5. When anchoring your boat it is a good rule of thumb to release the rope in a 7:1 ratio. This is seven times more length of rope than the depth of the water.

Operating a boat is just as serious as driving a car. So it is always a good idea to educate yourself and those around you about how to operate it. This summary is just a brief overview of the class. More information can be found on a number of websites. Including www.lcra.org, www.nobodyswaterproof.com ,www.tpwd.state.tx.us, or www.usps.org