PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) offers free monthly boating safety education courses in Phoenix and Lake Havasu City that cover instruction on the basic skills required to safely operate a boat or personal watercraft like a Jet Ski or Sea-Doo. They also cover topics like legal requirements and what to do during a boating emergency.
“Our courses are a great way to learn the basic knowledge involved with boating so that you and your family have a good primer before exploring Arizona’s lakes and rivers,” said Josh Hoffman, boating safety education coordinator for AZGFD. “And because safety is the No. 1 priority when boating, we can answer your questions and help to ensure that you’re prepared with the necessary equipment and gear.”
Life jackets must be worn by all passengers 12 years old and younger, but they are strongly recommended for everyone. A majority of the boating fatalities in 2023 in Arizona were drownings, and in those cases a life jacket may have prevented a tragedy. Those numbers are mirrored nationally: 87 percent of recreational boaters who drowned in 2023 were not wearing a life jacket, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
To make sure a life jacket is worn properly, keep in mind:
- A life jacket should fit snug.
- Have a child lift his or her arms overhead while you lift up on the life jacket by the shoulder straps; if the jacket rides up above the ear lobes, it is too big.
- Adults can self-check by hooking their thumbs under the shoulder straps and pulling up; if the jacket rides up over their ear lobes, it is too big.
- You should be able to fit your fingers in the back of the life jacket on a child. If you can’t, then it’s likely too tight.
Another key aspect of safety on the water is boating sober. Although the legal limit for operating a boat in Arizona is .08 blood-alcohol content, an operator is in violation of the law and may be prosecuted for operating a watercraft while impaired to the slightest degree by alcohol and/or drugs.
“Boating sober will help ensure operators stay alert, while also shifting the paradigm that alcohol and recreation are mutually exclusive,” said Danny Rodriguez, boating law administrator for AZGFD. “Just as you would with a vehicle, designate a sober driver. It’s an action that can help prevent a tragedy.”
Local groups are another great resource for both those new to boating and veterans of the waterways. From general boating to fishing to paddlesports, there are many local clubs throughout Arizona that provide an outlet for people to discuss questions and make connections.
In addition, AZGFD’s website provides information about myriad topics from boat registration and watercraft rules to aquatic invasive species and law enforcement.
