NEW LAW PROFFERED FOR SAFER BOATING

Suffolk County Legislator William R. Spencer (D-Centerport), sponsored a resolution recently that would make boating in Suffolk County much safer for all who enjoy spending the day on the waters surrounding Long Island.

His law would require any recreational vessel,  owned by a Suffolk County resident, larger than 26 feet long, with an enclosed cabin, to have an operational de-watering device and an audible and visual bilge alarm on board.

Dr. Spencer said newer boats come equipped with this technology which prevents water from collecting in the hull of a boat.  Having both an audible and visual alarm to alert the Captain that the bilge pump or de-watering system is not working properly and that water is collecting below, could prevent a potentially dangerous condition.

When water collects in the hull- and an errant wave, a sudden shifting of passengers, or even a strong wake hits a boat, then the pendulum style motion of the water below can cause it to tip over.  This may or may not have been the cause of the tragic accident in Oyster Bay last July, according to Dr. Spencer who wrote a letter to the Editor of a local paper recently, thanking Legislator Steven Stern (16th Legislative District) in Huntington, for passing a law last fall requiring all boaters "complete a boating safety course prior to operating a vessel on the waters of Suffolk County." Dr. Spencer's proposed law takes another step toward making sure accidents that are preventable don't happen.

 Dr. Spencer and his staff did extensive research and review and also worked on the language of the bill with the help of Lloyd Neck resident Jeff Bartels, who championed the need for the audible and visual alarm to be included in the bill.  A marine mechanic for over 35 years, Mr. Bartels knows full well how quickly a hull can fill with water.  Without an audible and visual alarm, according to him, there would be no way for the Captain to know the pump isn't working until it is too late.  The cost of adding the audible and visual alarms, is under a hundred dollars for the parts and about an hour or so for an experienced mechanic to install it, according to Mr. Bartels.  "When the real meaning of BOAT is "Break Out Another Thousand" as any real boat owner knows, that cost is negligible when compared to the loss of even one life." Mr. Bartels said adding, "Thank you to Dr. Spencer and to Lora and Linda his loyal and hardworking staff.  Passing this new law hopefully, will save many lives in the future."