Not only is it coming up on Memorial Day Weekend but it’s also National Boater Safety Week this week. 

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Conservation Officer Dustin Eighmy says Memorial Day Weekend is considered the beginning of the boating season. Eighmy says as people get their boats out for the first time this year there are some important things they should be remembering. 

“The biggest thing this year is our Iowa Boating Registration expired in April and that expires every three years. This is a registration year where people have to get their boats registered. So, if you’re just pulling it out for the first time, make sure that you don’t wait until Friday to get your boat registered, probably not going to happen and the recorder’s office isn’t going to be open.”

Eighmy tells Raccoon Valley when out and about boating people need to remember to have lifejackets on board for everyone on the boat and all those 13-years-old and under have to be in a lifejacket at all times as well. Eighmy says with a weekend like Memorial Day, people need to remember to be smart when it comes to alcohol. 

“Make sure that you keep in mind that when you are drinking alcohol out there on the water that the wind, the sun, the wave action you can become dehydrated faster, the effects of alcohol can come on a little bit faster and you might not know it and we don’t have seatbelts on boats. So, when we come across an incident on the water it seems to be quite serious and we don’t want that to happen, we want to prevent that. So, just be careful what you;re drinking out there drink lots of water for the day.”

Eighmy says people should also remember that they have someone who is designated to remain sober to operate the boat, that they know how to operate it.