Insurance Insights ~ July 2001

Boating Safety

In 2000, more than 800 lives were lost as a result of recreational boating accidents in the United States and its territories. As we approach the worst time for boating accidents in the US, 193 lives have been lost through May 31 of this year. This loss of life and property may have been avoided if recreational boaters were properly trained in the safe operation of their boats. The Safety Courses offered by the U.S. Coast Guard provide information about training that every recreational boater should have. The Boating Basics Course meets the needs of boaters and personal watercraft operators and also the standards of each state.

One very important question that is asked is "Can I use a bigger motor on my boat?" Everyone wants to go faster than their motor allows them, but the Coast Guard hopes that boaters will abide by the rating specified on the capacity label on the hull, as overloading may lead to capsizing or swamping of the boat. There are also state and insurance regulations that prohibit the overloading of a boat and each state has its own rating regulations.

The law in most states is that all children and adults should wear a life jacket while in a boat of any kind on the water. This is mainly for the safety of the children. If the adult has on a life jacket, he or she can be ready for any situation that may arise.

The use of alcohol and the boating stress can cause a perilous condition. Judgment and skills deteriorate, and physical performance and reaction time are reduced. Alcohol also creates a sense of warmth and may prevent a person in cold water from getting out before hypothermia sets in. It is unlawful in any state to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Just remember that whether you are going boating alone or with others, someone who is not going with you should have details of your trip, so they can alert the proper authorities if something should go wrong. Something to never forget is the same for everyone -- please be courteous and give other smaller boats the right of way.

Have a safe and enjoyable boating experience.

Stay Safe in Summer Storms

Lightning is dangerous. It can destroy property and endanger life. Lightning, hail, strong winds, including tornadoes, can all combine to make summer as threatening as winter.

There are areas where atmospheric conditions seem to cause more lightning strikes than typical. If you live in such an area, or if lightning has struck homes near you, it’s time to take precautions.

• Install surge protectors on electronic appliances and properly ground TV antennas and satellite dishes. Also, equip your house with a lightning arrestor and lightning rod. Surge protectors help guard electronic equipment from all types of high voltage spikes, including lightning. A lightning arrestor is a surge protector installed on the incoming power lines so it protects the entire house. A lightning rod statically grounds the house. Experts recommend a home have both an arrestor and a rod. Talk to your electric utility’s customer service department or a licensed electrician before you buy.

• Wind doesn’t have to blow 100 miles per hour to do damage. Loose roofing or siding is vulnerable in 30-40 mph winds. Routine roof, siding and tree maintenance is your best defense against wind. Once a year check your roof and repair or replace all loose, cracked, broken, curling or missing shingles. Talk to your roofing contractor about using this opportunity to upgrade your roof and make it more wind resistant.

• Secure your television antenna or satellite dish to the chimney unless the mast is very high or you live in an area with frequent high winds. In that case, use guy wires to secure it to the roof.

• Trees and limbs falling on roofs are a major cause of property damage. Remove all dead, dying and weak branches that can break during a storm. A limb is considered weak if it is too close (less than a 30 degree angle) to where it joins the trunk, grows too close to or directly opposite another major branch or rubs against another bough. Even if branches aren’t weak, remove any that rub against your house’s roof. Thinning out the crowns of big trees is also important, reducing a crown’s weight so a tree can better withstand the force of a storm. It also lets light, rain and air reach a tree’s inner and lower branches.

• Finally, take down any tree close enough to fall onto your house. Losing it is preferable to having it crash against your house during a violent storm. Be careful. Pruning trees, no matter what size, is dangerous.

INSURANCE INSIGHTS is an electronic newsletter published monthly (except for January and August) by G. C. Weimer Associates, Inc. Information contained herein is accurate to the best of our knowledge and belief as of 7/1/2001. If you have a topic of interest for a future issue, e-mail us at info@gcwinsure.com.