BoatUS: Recreational boating traffic to peak this weekend
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Boat Owners Association of The United States says the July 4th holiday is expected to bring record numbers of boaters to the water. The 24-hour BoatUS on-the-water dispatch centers and TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist towing fleets are expected to receive a total of nearly 3,000 requests for assistance from boaters during the holiday weekend, with a big spike likely to occur each evening – timed with conclusion of waterfront fireworks shows as boats pull anchor en masse and head home.
While this number is down from previous years due to economic conditions, it still means a lot of boaters will need jump starts, tows home or ungrounding help, according to the group.
“For many, this will be the only time of year they operate their boat in the dark,” BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water President Chris Edmonston said in a release. “As you’re about to pull the hook to leave after fireworks show ends, boaters should understand that the risk of having an accident significantly increases after the sun goes down.”
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