Kestler says, “Dunkirk Harbor and Lake Erie are busy every weekend, especially on July 4th weekend. There are boaters, water skiers, jet skis, and recreational anglers. The boat launch area is also busy with limited parking that can congest the traffic flow.”

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water suggests that boaters check that anchoring gear is healthy. You may not have used it yet this boating season, so be sure all is good to go for whatever anchoring arrangement: a picnic hook, extra fenders for a raft-up, or shore-side tie-up requiring a second line.

When arriving at your celebration spot and setting anchor, ensure you let out enough scope for the depth and predicted weather conditions. Show some courtesy if things get crowded. On the other hand, don’t be that guy who runs into an anchorage throwing a wake, utterly oblivious to those around him.

Don’t stress it. It’s a long day on the water. U.S. Coast Guard research shows that four hours of exposure to the sun, loud music, noise, vibration, waves and other motion can produce a kind of fatigue, or “boater’s hypnosis,” which slows reaction time almost as much as if you were legally drunk. Adding alcohol makes it worse. Stay alert on your battery usage. Among the most significant number of calls for help are battery jump services. It is as if on cue, just after the fireworks shows end, when boaters want to head home.

Among watercraft that deserve special consideration are increasing numbers of angler kayakers that are also on the water during holiday periods. Photo by Forrest Fisher

Important: Get home safely. Before departing from anchor, wait to turn on the engine until everyone is back aboard and the ladder is up. If you’re leaving a fireworks show, proceed with utmost caution. It’s always better to wait a few minutes for everyone to clear out and give wakes a chance to subside before departing. Be patient and, again, give as much courtesy as you can. Everyone aboard should be acting as a lookout. Never take a shortcut home after dark.

The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water is a nonprofit that provides innovative educational outreach directly to boaters and anglers to reduce accidents and fatalities, increase stewardship of America’s waterways and keep boating safe for all. A range of safe and clean boating courses, including the nation’s largest free online boating safety course, can be found at https://www.boatus.org/courses.

Outdoors Calendar

July 4: Firecracker Sporting Clay Shoot, Hanover Fish & Game, 780 Overhiser Road, Forestville. $50 cost for 100 bird shoot. Visit www.hanoverclays.com for more info.

July 9: Erie County Trappers, Potluck Family Picnic, 12580 Jennings Road, Patti Wattengal. Bring a dish to share.

July 11: WNY Walleye monthly meeting, 6:30PM, at Knights of Columbus, 36 Pierce Ave., Hamburg.

July 19-20: Sunset Bay walleye Shootout, $500 entry, $500K prizes, 6 fish bag/ 1 day, INFO: Captain Don Ruppert, www.walleyeshootout.com.

July 27-28: Bart’s Cove Walleye Dual-2, Integrity Walleye Series (IWT-2), Dunkirk Harbor, 3 fish bag/ day, 2 days, INFO: Mark Mohr, 716-998-9871.