US Freshwater Boaters Alliance 2017 Service Report

Transcription

1 US Freshwater Boaters Alliance 2017 Service Report 2017 Towing Practice US Freshwater Boaters Alliance December 2017

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3 1 Contents Contents... 1 About the 2017 Service Report... 2 Activity Summary... 3 Promoting Boating Safety... 4 Assisting Boaters... 4 Education Boating Safety Events... 6 Community Service... 7 Ohio Department of Natural Resources... 8 Appendix A... 9

4 2 About the 2017 Service Report 2018 is here and although it s cold outside now, a new boating season is only weeks away was a busy year for the members of the US Freshwater Boaters alliance. There were plenty of high points in our work to promote safe boating, but we also saw tragedy when a drowning occurred on Grand Lake St Marys. We cover all of that in this year s report. We re actively planning for a new season of boating but in this report we take a look back at last season. First, some information about the report itself. If you re reading this report online, you can click on words that are in this color and underlined, to be linked to more detail. The link may take USFBA Vessel Space A tows a pontoon on Grand Lake St Marys. you to a specific page in the Service Report, to certain sections of our website, or even to YouTube. Most of the information is here but the full story which may include photos or videos will be found where the link takes you. As you look over our report, keep in mind who we are. The US Freshwater Boaters Alliance or USFBA is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit incorporated in Ohio. Our organization is governed by a set of Bylaws that define our structure and operational characteristics. Our chapters operate under a charter issued by our Officers Board authorizing the chapter to engage in community activities on behalf of the USFBA. Our members are volunteers who are committed to boating safety wherever people enjoy recreational boating. Our tag line is Boaters Helping Boaters and our members focus on safety, observation to look out for boaters around them, and assistance to other boaters as needed. We re a family oriented organization and always looking for likeminded boaters to join us. Joining us is easy and you can find our membership process here. If you have any interest or questions, we can be reached by telephone at (419) or by at CIO@USFreshwaterBoatersAlliance.com, or by mail at P.O. Box 101, Celina, OH Thank you for taking time to review our 2017 Service report. We hope you find it informative and our efforts worthwhile. The Officers and Members of the USFBA

5 3 Activity Summary US Freshwater Boaters Alliance members set more records for the organization in Here s a few examples with details later in the report: In 2014 when the USFBA first began operations we recorded just over 600 hours on the water and in 2015 and 2016 we approached 1,000 patrol hours on the water looking out for our fellow boaters. Now in 2017, we recorded 1,138 total hours on patrol. For boaters that need on the water assistance we ve become the primary resource. In 2014 we towed 10 boats to safety. In 2015, 15. In 2016, 24. And in 2017 we towed 27 The US Freshwater Boaters Alliance 911 Response Team. From the left, Jeff Marcum, Dick Heiby, Steve Lefeld, Paul Joseph, Larry Stelzer. Not pictured, Kent Hughes and Kevin Mast. boats to safe harbor, an increase of 270% from And there s never a charge, it s free. Fully operational in 2017, the US Freshwater Boaters Alliance is now dispatched for all 911 calls that come into the Mercer County 911 Center for issues requiring assistance on Grand Lake St Marys. Of the 38 calls the USFBA handled in 2017, 18 of them came through the 911 Dispatch Center. Once again, we supported the local community by participating in Freedom Days. We provided free pontoon rides to more than 1,000 people. And we provided perimeter security for all GLSM community fireworks displays. All in all, our members spent 860 hours working community events and drove over 6,900 miles in their personal vehicles. Working with the state we provide perimeter support for GLSM dredge line moves, remove floating debris, and mark stumps with side scan sonar for removal. It s been a very good year and there s lots more to share. All the details are in the following sections and pages. Online and want to see our 2017 Season on video? Click HERE.

6 4 Promoting Boating Safety - Assisting Boaters Here s some detail about our assistance to other boaters: In 2017 we towed 27 boats to safety. USFBA vessels involved are shown below. Total Calls: 38 Vessel 911 Hotline Flag Down Tow Hours Branch Bentley Bulldog Chuck's Boat Endless Summer Four Masts Get~Aweigh Last Resort Lauren K Our Island Space "A" Zodiac Totals The members who conducted the tows were: Rich Branch, Dick and Beth Heiby, Kent and Geri Hughes, Paul Joseph, Jeff Marcum, Kevin Mast, Brian Schindley, Larry Stelzer, Chuck Webster, and Keith and Sheila Westrick. Our assistance can be as a result of one of our members coming up on a disabled boat during a normal cruise, a dispatch from the Mercer County 911 center or as a result of a call to the USFBA hot line. Even if the call quality is bad our system can trap the caller id and we can get back to the caller in just minutes. And the calls come in at any time of the day or night. The second call of the season came from the Celina Police Dispatcher at 3:09am on April 18 th. Like your local fire department, the USFBA volunteers respond to all calls regardless of when they come in. To see detail on the calls we handled in 2017, go to Appendix A. To hear a sample of calls we receive, click HERE.

7 5 Promoting Boating Safety - Education The USFBA was founded in 2013 with a goal of improving boating safety on our interior lakes and rivers. We believe that ongoing boater education can have a major positive impact. All our members must complete a boating safety class when they join but in addition we sponsor and conduct classes on safe boating throughout the year. USFBA Members Receive CPR Training 1/9 On January 9th, Jerry Fenning of the Celina Fire Department conducted a CPR training class for Several USFBA Members. Held at the Richardson Bretz Building, the class covered CPR on both adults and children. USFBA GLSM Chapter Director Larry Stelzer arranged for the class. Larry believes that CPR is a life saving skill that everyone should learn how to employ. The USFBA members in attendance all agree and encourage everyone to take this training if possible. USFBA Sponsors the US Power Squadron s America s Boating Course The US Power Squadron from Lima and the USFBA kicked off the 2017 boating season by conducting the Power Squadron's "America's Boating Course" in Celina on March 11 th. 10 students, both adults and minors took the class which provides a foundation in safe boating practices. Ohio law requires anyone born on or after January 1, 1982, to complete an approved basic boating safety class in order to operate a boat or PWC over 10 hp or more on state waterways. Boat Towing Class and Practice Session On August 14th, we held our second annual Towing Class and Practice Session. Meeting first at Celina s Lighthouse Harbor Shelterhouse, members reviewed towing equipment and procedures. Then the 10 boats participating went out to the Western end of GLSM for towing practice sessions.

8 6 Promoting Boating Safety Boating Safety Events Throughout the season, we set up booths or hold events where we share the importance of boating safety. Here s a sample Grand Lake St Marys Boat Show The Boathouse at Grand Lake held their annual boat show at the Mercer County Fairgrounds and offered the USFBA booth space to share our story with boat show visitors. The Boathouse is one of the Commercial Members of the USFBA supporting our efforts to promote safe boating. We had a prize drawing for a VHF radio and Curt Cramer of Celina was the winner. The Boathouse is one of the USFBA Commercial Members. February Lake Improvement Association Meeting Online? Click the Photo for Video. CIO Jeff Marcum gave an up-date on the USFBA at the Lake Improvement Association Meeting. GLSM State Park Manager David Faler was there as well and complimented the USFBA for our efforts in supporting the park and the community. USFBA Interviewed on Boating Safety The drowning of a boater on GLSM in May prompted Lima s Hometown Stations reporter Jack McGuire to contact the USFBA and come to GLSM to interview Commodore Paul Joseph and CIO Jeff Marcum about boating safety. The USFBA s efforts are well known in the area and members are often asked to provide comments for stories on boating safety. Online? Click the Photo for Video. LIA Summer Kickoff Our friends at the Lake Improvement Association held their annual Summer Kickoff on June 3rd at the villa Nova Shelter house on the northeastern side of Grand Lake St Marys. Music, food, the Color Run, kid s activities, vendors and more made for a great event. The USFBA Zodiac was on display and we talked with a lot of boaters who stopped by.

9 7 Community Service The USFBA Members are volunteers and in addition to promoting boating safety, we support and promote the communities where we live and boat. Here are some examples of our contribution to the community. Pontoon Rides Every year the US Freshwater Boaters Alliance offers free pontoon boat rides to the public on Grand Lake St Marys. The rides are offered at the Celina Freedom Days event. And for two days we take over 1,000 people out on the lake. It s our way of helping to promote the lake, the community, and boating safety. Online? Click the Photo for Video. Fireworks Perimeter Support Enjoy the fireworks displays on Grand Lake St Marys? The boats you see out there with flashing amber lights secure the perimeter. Those are USFBA members and without them, the fireworks displays couldn t be held. Here s a photo from USFBA vessel Last Resort as it escorts the fireworks barge into position for the Freedom Days Fireworks display Stahr Award The Greater Grand Lake Region Visitors Bureau held its annual awards luncheon on 4/13/2017. The Bureau's 2016 Stahr Award was presented to the US Fresh Water Boaters Alliance. The Stahr Award recognizes an organization for outstanding contributions to the development of tourism in the Greater Grand Lake Visitors Region.

10 8 Ohio Department of Natural Resources Partnership Dredge Line Move Support On Grand Lake St Marys, the USFBA provides boats to act as perimeter security when State crews relocate dredge lines. USFBA vessels are charged with intercepting approaching boats and warning them of the dredge line. In 2017, USFBA members assisted with 6 dredge line moves. When the lines are moved they are floated, sometimes just to the surface of the water. The lines can stretch as much as 7,000 feet in length. While they are moved and floating they can present a hazard to boaters. Online? Click the Photo for Video. On the Water Assistance On Grand Lake St Marys, the USFBA responds to all 911 calls for assistance on the lake as well as operating our own Hotline. In 2017, approximately 50% of the calls for assistance came through the Mercer County 911 Dispatch Center. Emergency Response Augmentation The Call From 911 Dispatch Came In at 2:49am Saturday, Memorial Day weekend. The Mercer County 911 Dispatcher reported a male, approximately 5 9, wearing a dark blue hooded sweatshirt, jeans, and tennis shoes had jumped from a boat west of Safety Island and North of Windy Point. He was unconscious in the water. When asked, the 911 Dispatcher responded that he was not wearing a life jacket. Online? Click the Photo for Video. And that started a search/recovery operation that concluded on Tuesday morning with the recovery of a body. Directed by Lieutenant Travis Martin of ODNR, the operation included ODNR boats with side scan sonar, cadaver dogs, boats from the USFBA, the Montezuma FD boat and St Marys Township FD, and the Celina PD boat. The USFBA provided perimeter security for the search area, shuttled searchers to and from the search site, and acted as the dive platform for the divers.

11 9 Appendix A - USFBA 2017 Assistance Call Log Date 911 Hotline Flag Down Tow Vessel Commentary Hours 04/02/17 X Lauren K Received a call on the USFBA hot line at 18:28 from a boater near Safety Island whose boat would not start. Lauren K was dispatched and on site at 18:45. Boat then started. Lauren K escorted the boat to safety at the Hot Water Hole and then returned to port at 19:30. Call was closed /18/17 X X Lauren K Call came in from Celina PD at 3:09 am. Boat out of fuel near Windy Point. Lauren K dispatched. Made contact with boat operator by cell phone. 3 POB with life jackets on. Boat was drifting with no anchor. Wind was from Northeast and by the time boat was located it was on the rocks on the West bank near Coldwater Creek. Lauren K managed to throw a tow line to the disabled boat. Hooked up and towed boat back to South Lake boat docks. Boat safe at dock at 5:00 am. Drove boat operator and passengers home to Northmore Subdivision. They will retrieve boat later. Notified Celina PD that all were safe and closed call. 2.0

12 10 04/19/17 X X Space "A" Received call from CIO Jeff Marcum that a boat would not start and the owner had requested assistance through the USFBA Hot Line. Boat was located at the Moose boat docks. Although we normally do not assist a boat that is in a safe harbor we agreed to tow the boat to the West Bank boat ramp so the owner could load it on a trailer. I agreed to do the tow on Space A. Jeff joined me to do the tow. Dick Heiby then met us at the Moose boat docks. We took the boat under tow in high southwesterly winds and 2 foot waves. Boat was towed to the boat ramp and loaded on the trailer with no issues encountered /22/17 X X Space "A" Towed a stranded boater with Jeff Marcum. Call came to Jeff from 911 line 05/27/17 X X Bulldog Towed a pontoon to Shingle Shack area. Motor overheated

13 11 05/27/17 X Get~Aweigh Received a call from 911 Dispatch at 2:49am reporting a man jumped from a boat in GLSM and was reported unconscious in the water west of Safety Island and north of Windy Point. Subject was wearing a dark blue sweatshirt, cutoff jeans, and tennis shoes. Male 5'9" tall. No PFD. Montezuma FD, Celina PD, and ODNR officers were also dispatched. I responded first in the Get~Aweigh and then returned to switch to Zodiac 1 to take two Montezuma FD members out with me to search for the body. See separate time report for Zodiac 1. Later I switched back to the Get~Aweigh and Paul Joseph took over operation of Zodiac 1. Nothing found on Day /27/17 X Zodiac 1 Continue search for body using Zodiac /27/17 X Zodiac 1 Conducted support and search operations on GLSM in the vicinity of Safety Island. Shuttled spotters to the area from Windy Point OPS station from the Montezuma VFD. Shuttled ODNR K-9 officers to search area for waterborne transfer of personnel /28/17 X Get~Aweigh Day 2 of body search /28/17 X Zodiac 1 Conducted search area ops, security and access entry into search area, shuttled personnel and spotters to area as directed by ODNR. 05/29/17 X Branch Bentley Perimeter patrol to assist DNR body search

14 12 05/29/17 X Get~Aweigh Provided perimeter security for the recovery search area, shuttled personnel from Command center to recovery search area, served as dive team deployment vessel. 11.0

15 13 05/29/17 X X Last Resort Conducted tow of a disabled pontoon boat from sector 2 adjacent to the search area under review by ODNR. 1.0 Boat had no anchor on board and was disabled by having a dock line get entangled in their prop. Because there was no anchor, the vessel was drifting into the search area and came within 75 feet of Safety Island before Last Resort was able to connect and begin towing to safety. The tow was conducted under a heavy sea state with prevailing mph winds out of the southwest causing 2-3 foot waves while underway. The vessel was towed to Karafit ramp area and released at the closest safe port as the channel was too narrow to effect further delivery of the vessel. What made this tow even more difficult was due to the owner of the disable vessel having raised his motor with the entangled line and he could not lower the unit back into the water due to the tension. As a result, the towed vessel was pulled a 45 degree angle to the lead unit for the duration of the tow.

16 14 05/29/17 X Last Resort Conducted support operations requested by ODNR in recovery of drowned boater from May 27th. Transported land search personnel (3) to Safety Island. Transferred spotter personnel from Last Resort to Get Aweigh while waterborne. Conducted search area access control for duration of operations. Shuttled watch area spotters to Windy Point OPS base to rotate out with other support members. Heavy seas noted for duration of operations due to prevailing sustained winds of 15+ mph /06/17 X X Bulldog 911 call to recover a free floating jet ski that broke away from it's dock. Saw people milling on shore wearing life jackets. Picked up the owner and took him to the jet ski. Grabbed it with our boat hook and helped the owner get on board and let him start it and drive it to his dock. Stood by while he was safely on shore and the ski tied /25/17 X X Bulldog Called to tow a disabled pontoon from SW of Safety Island to Westbank Boat Dock. Get A Weigh assisted by shadowing and aiding the he docking of the disabled pontoon. Water was extremely rough with strong westerly winds of about 25 mph. Boat was drifting with the anchor incorrectly deployed and in danger of hitting the rocks at the Windy Point island. 2.0

17 15 06/25/17 X X Last Resort Conducted a tow of a disabled fishing boat from radio call via marine band radio on channel 68. Boat was located approximately.5 mile east of Safety Island in rough water. Safely towed to D& W marina at owner's request. (closest location) /01/17 X X Branch Bentley After Fireworks perimeter patrol assisted disabled boat with a jump from my battery pack around 10:45pm. 11:30 PM same boat was disabled in sector 1. Towed back to shore in sector 2. 07/02/17 X X Last Resort Responded to a 911 call for assistance with a disabled vessel. Boat was out of gas and reported drifting westbound towards Safety Island. Operator had two anchors and had lost both while trying to deploy them. Vessel was located 200 yards east of Safety Island and was towed to D&W Marina for fuel and repairs. Knap Time assisted with tow and provided area security during heavy Fourth of July boating traffic at the time

18 16 07/02/17 X X Lauren K Received a call from 911 Dispatch at 17:45. Pontoon boat disabled and anchored due east of West Bank in line with large flag at Bud's auto dealership. Contacted boat captain. Radioed NCO Base when I cleared my channel and entered Montezuma Bay. Chuck's Boat was on the lake. They followed me to the disabled vessel and stood by while I hooked up the pontoon and then shadowed me as I towed it to D&W Marina. Pontoon had 10 POB. Returned to home dock at 19: /04/17 X Lauren K 911 Dispatch reported that a resident on the north side of GLSM had called. She said a pontoon boat was having trouble on the lake between Safety Island and the north shore. They would start the boat and it would run for a few minutes and then stop. When I arrived on scene I could not locate the boat. I asked 911 Dispatch to have the lady call my cell phone. She reported the boat had managed to move past Harbor Point. No boats were drifting in that area. Call cancelled /15/17 X X Bulldog Dispatched to the SE corner of the lake to tow in a disabled pontoon. They were from Monroe Oh and had a place at Rustic Haven. Since it needed repaired, they request that we take them to Kozy Marina which worked out well for us 2.0

19 17 07/16/17 X X Chuck's Boat Call came in from Mercer County 911 Dispatch at 00:21. Message was "Hi, this is the Mercer County Sheriff's office. I have a boat stranded about one mile northeast of the lighthouse in Celina. Be advised they cannot get their boat to start. It's going to be a tan StarCraft. If you can give me a call back at (419)xxx-xxxx.". Contacted boater. Confirmed location. 3 adult POB. Advised them to set an anchor and to put on life jackets. They had no PFD's. Contacted 911 team member Chuck Webster to take the assistance call. Jeff Marcum accompanied him on his boat. Towed the disabled vessel to West Bank boat ramp. Returned to Chuck's dock at 02:21 and notified 911 Dispatch call complete /22/17 X Get~Aweigh Received a call from the Celina PD at 10:33 requesting assistance in retrieving a drifting 18' runabout. Dispatched along with Last Resort. located boat near Coldwater Creek in an area behind a rock wall, beached in water too shallow to enter safely. Notified Celina PD to contact State Officers for assistance. Terminated response patrol /23/17 X X Lauren K Call came in to the USFBA hotline at 13:16 from a pontoon boat with 4 POB and 1 dog. Boat's lower unit wasn't functioning and before they could deploy the anchor, the wind blew the boat onto the rocks east of the Northmor lighthouse. Lauren K dispatched to scene. Hooked up pontoon and towed to their home dock at Kozy Marina. Lauren K returned to port at 15:45 2.5

20 18 07/29/17 X X Space "A" About 1700 on 29 July 2017, my son and grandson were out in our kayak and returned home and reported a boat adrift close to the Montezuma access. We returned in the Space A and found a 15 foot Boston Whaler, with a 90 HP Honda outboard and keys in the ignition. A tow line was attached to the bow. We shouted and looked around the area and no one responded. The boat was banging against the culvert on Highway 703 when we found it. Captain Connor and his dad, Andrew Hughes, towed the boat to our slip and we called Jeff Marcum. Jeff called the Sheriff and a dispatcher called to get the description and registration number of the boat. Twenty minutes later a lady showed up and took procession of her boat. Nothing else heard from the sheriff department. The lady's husband claims it is the 3rd time this month she has failed to secure the boat to their dock correctly /12/17 X X Lauren K Received call of disabled pontoon on Bayview channel. Towed to West Bank boat ramp. No issues encountered. 3.0

21 19 08/13/17 X X Endless Summer Towed disabled pontoon (owner said he thought the starter died as it would hum but not crank) from Spend a Day Harbor across the lake to acheson's channel where they are docked. Owners thanked us many times as they were trying to navigate a rough lake with only a trolling motor for power...even tried to give us gas money for helping them out. Told them about the USFBA and told them to "pay it forward" if they come across anyone else that needs a hand out on the lake /20/17 X X Our Island Came across a deck boat that was disabled on the West side of Grand Lake St. Marys. Towed them to West Bank Launch Area /27/17 X X Endless Summer Towed disabled pontoon from just off fox island to their boat docks at the wedge. We stopped and checked on a family since it looked as if they were having some motor problems. Owner said the boat just died all of a sudden and would crank but wouldn't restart. We offered a tow and found out then that they were only yards from their dock. They thanked us for the tow. 08/31/17 X X Lauren K Hot line call came in at 17:28.Pontoon boat with 2 POB broke down west of Safety Island. High NE wind created very rough conditions with high waves. Threw line and bridle to boat operator and they hooked onto the pontoons. Towed them to the fuel dock at Windy Point Marina. 1.5

22 20 09/01/17 X X Four Masts Boat broke down on northwest side of GLSM (USFBA Sector 1) with 1 POB. Towed to Eagles boat ramp. High ENE wind made for rough conditions. 09/23/17 X X Zodiac 1 Received a call on the USFBA Hotline requesting assistance due to a dead battery from a boat located in swim area just west of Behm's Landing. 24' Bayliner with 3 adults, 3 children towed to safety at Sandy Beach. Lauren K assisted in the tow and provided cover to heavier than normal boat traffic /24/17 X X Bulldog While on patrol, we saw a pontoon flying the orange distress flag. They broke down NE of Behm's. We pulled along side and they mentioned that they had called the State Park for assistance an hour earlier. The State called back and said that they were heading to get a boat. Since we were there, we told them to call and cancel the State. Many boaters went by them but did not offer assistance. We instructed them to put on PFD's. and towed them to Freedom Marine in St Marys. We helped them tie up and gave them a USFBA brochure /24/17 X X Our Island Pontoon with four passengers were dead in the water. Towed them to Freedom Marine in St. Marys Ohio.

23 21 10/04/17 X X Lauren K Received call from 911 Dispatch at 17:40. Pontoon with 6 POB disabled north of Southmore Shores. Contacted boat captain. He was displaying distress flag. Advised him to set anchor and have all passengers don PFD's. Lauren K dispatched from Motezuma Bay and arrived on scene at 18:20. Towed pontoon to owner's dock at Otterbein. Notified 911 Dispatch that disabled vessel was safe at dock at 18:43 then returned to Lauren K home dock /18/17 X X Bulldog Received a call regarding a disabled pontoon near WSU. Responded to the scene and towed him to West Bank Docks /13/17 X X Four Masts Pontoon with 1 POB towed to West Bank boat ramp. 1.5 Totals

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