This week has been beautiful weather for anyone who has an interest in being outdoors in Pennsylvania.

The days have been filled with sunshine and the temperatures in the high 70’s which is awesome for hunters, gardeners, bird watchers, kayaking and fishing. This past week was National Safe Boating Week, which is an annual event that kicks off safe boating season.

The use of kayaks and canoes have really been advertised at all the sporting goods retailers and if you want to try out the waters, there are rentals at Moraine State Park as well.

Kayaks come in various models and sizes for enthusiasts of fishing, hunting, white water and just social activities. Every color is available from sunburst orange, rainbow stripes, dull camouflage, and everything in between depending on your needs and specified use. There are sit on kayaks as well as sit in kayaks, two person kayaks, kid size kayaks and kayaks with set ups for electric motors.

Each has benefits to the boater that needs to be considered. How heavy is the kayak, how will you transport them, what is the weight capacity for a person and gear, what length do you want for water use and what price range do you want to explore? A kayak can run from $200 up to $2,000, depending on how you gear it up and the quality of your craft.

Safety first!

Safety is the focus today as we head into boating season! Water and people are a powerful attractant for summer fun and also can be a deadly mix if poor choices are made. The No. 1 cause of fatalities on the water is the failure to wear personal flotation devices and couple that with alcohol use is very deadly combination.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will really be on the alert for unsafe boating practices starting this Memorial Day holiday weekend. Having a serviceable lifejacket for everyone on board your boat is a mandatory rule and an instant citation for all boaters. The person operating the boat is responsible for everyone on board to be compliant.

Life jackets, PFD’s, personal flotation devices or ski vests are all designed for specific uses and sizes of people. They make them from infant sizes, child sizes and all adult sizes, according to both yourchest size and body weight. It doesn’t do a kid any good to wear an adult PFD if they can easily slip out of them.

A good test is to take hold of the PFD at the shoulders and lift up … if it comes off the child it is too big! Another safety float is the throwable device in a ring or a cushion which is mandated on all boats over 16 foot. It is a life saver if you need to assist someone in the water to stay afloat until help arrives.

No matter how good a swimmer you are, accidents do happen, especially in cold water, if there is trauma to your head or limbs, if you become entangled in ropes or debris or there is more than one person in the water.

I remember one father who had three children on the water in a boating outing with no PFD’s. He was asked what he would do if they capsized, he claimed that he was a good swimmer, and then he was asked which child would he save if they were all in trouble! Point made!

Don’t forget to carry a whistle or horn to warn off other boats or to attract attention if you are in peril. Night boating requires a flash light or other light source to identify your craft in the waterways. If you are kayaking in swift waters, you may want to wear a helmet like bikers to protect your head in case of capsizing your kayak.

It is also a good idea to let someone know of your waterway itinerary and schedule. If a problem develops, it is a good idea that someone knows your location and time schedule in case an unforeseen rescue is needed. We don’t expect problems, but we need to be ready for them.

Don’t count on cell phone services as many areas have poor reception due to remoteness or terrain.

Fish for free

Don’t forget the Pennsylvania Fish for Free Days this year will be Sunday and July 4 across all of the Commonwealth. All persons wanting to try their skills at catching fish in Pa. have a day to try it out without buying a fishing license.

However, all the regular fishing rules apply and you will need to know the species, limits and sizes of the fish that you are targeting if you keep them!

Until we meet again, boat safely and catch a big one!

Jay Hewitt is an outdoors columnist for the Butler Eagle