Posted: Sat, 16 May 2015 08:49 AM - 38,174 Readers

By: Kate Weidaw

Even though there’s a chance of rain this weekend, it’s the official kickoff to boating season. That’s why the Coast Guard plans to be out on Lake Austin doing safety checks this weekend.

For those who put their boat in at the Walsh Boat Landing or under the Loop 360 bridge, plan an extra 10- to 20 minutes for a volunteer from the Coast Guard to do a quick safety check. That includes looking for a fire extinguisher, navigation lights and life jackets.

The Coast Guard finds that most boating deaths are due to someone drowning and that nearly 500 lives a year could be saved by wearing a life jacket. While kids are required by law to have one on, officials find it’s harder to get adults to wear one.

“Maybe you can swim, but a lot of fatalities happen when someone falls off unexpectedly — maybe knocks themselves out,” said Jacob Thayer, flotilla commander with the US Coast Guard auxiliary. “You can be the greatest swimmer in the world, but if you are knocked unconscious, that’s not going to help you.”

The boat safety checks are free, and the Coast Guard won’t write a ticket. Sometimes, boaters can get a discount on their insurance if they have a certificate from a Coast Guard inspection.