Page 12 - Mid America Boating - June 2024 issue

Boat Smart

made devices ability to direct them. As a result, new lakes form along highways before water
JUNE 2024 [ MID-AMERICA BOATING ] 12
can be re-routed.

In northern regions, heavy ice flows block and can stop rivers from flowing until the force
reaches a point where it overtakes the ice block. This action will often strip the shoreline of
docks, trees and even buildings.
Low water conditions led knowledgeable skippers to keep a sharp lookout and stay off shore
in deep water, even on small, inland lakes. Run off conditions present a test of a captain’s ability
to read the water and avoid debris floating on or just below the surface, even well off shore.

Watch out for

spring run-offs
and shallows

By Capt. Fred Davis

Captain Fred Davis, who dedicated himself to decades of continously promoting boating safety, wrote
hundreds of boating columns for Mid-America Boating and other publications on the subject that were
published during his lifetime. Captain Fred passed away in 2019, but many of his discussions about
boating safety remain timeless. Here is one of his many columns pertaining to the universal message
about outfitting a boat for safety before you launch it for another season.

avigating rivers and lakes presents problems for boaters because of shallow water. On
the Great Lakes, boaters have developed more awareness of reefs and rocks. Those who
Nremained unaware encounter major damage from unexpected groundings. The Army
Corp of Engineers relate that thick ice helps reduce evaporation and accumulations of snow
bring water levels up. Reefs are exposed at low water and extreme caution must be used traveling
In drought areas, the ground becomes nearly as hard as cement so run offs may exceed man near shore.

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