Memorial Day Ramps Up Boating and Swimming Hazards
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
May 20, 2026
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. With Memorial Day just days away and area boating, swimming and water activities already in high gear, water safety cannot be overstated.
Each year drownings and near drowning incidents occur in the Gulf as well as in our area lakes and rivers and many are preventable, said Tim Weaver, a retired US Coast Guardsman and former lifeguard.
If people would think safety and take a few precautions such as know the conditions where you’re swimming, and if you’re boating, make sure that the required safety equipment is onboard, many emergencies can be avoided.
As Memorial Day weekend brings higher numbers of impaired boaters to our waterways, law enforcement is issuing important safety reminders.
Number one rule is the same as driving a car, don’t drink and operate a vessel, said Weaver.
Know the rules of the water and operate your vessel in a safe manner.
Be aware that some hazards that are normally marked or hidden underwater are now much harder to navigate, especially at night.
Having fun on the water doesn’t mean that you have to drive your boat fast, recklessly or ignore the rules. Obey wake zones, know what each floating buoy means and understand the navigating at night is more difficult and often more dangerous.
Now that a new Alabama law has been passed, marine officers and local police can no longer stop or board a vessel for random safety inspections. Legislation (House Bill 254) signed by Governor Kay Ivey requires law enforcement to establish probable cause that a state law has been violated before intercepting a boat.
That means, safety is now one hundred percent in the hands of the vessel captain.
However, boat safety is now more important than ever and knowing what safety gear is required to have onboard your vessel is up to the boat owner.
Gear requirements are based on the length of your vessel. Basic legal minimums include one U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket per person, one throwable flotation device, a sound-producing device (like a whistle or horn), visual distress signals, and a marine-rated fire extinguisher if you have an enclosed engine or fuel tank.
Life jackets are truly lifesavers, Weaver said.
Operating in any navigable water such as the Gulf or some rivers in our area, falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Coast Guard and your vessel can be boarded for safety inspections.
In Alabama, the minimum age to operate any motorized vessel or personal watercraft is 12 years old. Operators aged 12 to 13 must have a licensed adult on board, while operators 14 and older may drive alone provided they carry a valid boater safety certification.
May is Water Safety Month, and it’s important to know the water conditions before jumping in.
Along the Alabama coast there are often strong currents, frequent undertows and powerful, unpredictable rip currents.
Enjoy the water but when in doubt, stay out!
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