Coast Guard Auxiliary Offers Boating Safety Class this Saturday

Now that the weather is beginning to turn warmer, people are already out on boats and personal watercraft on Hartwell Lake.

And that’s one reason why the local chapter of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 24 is holding a boating safety class this weekend.

The class will be held this Saturday in the lower level of the Hart County Library from 9a to 4p.

Larry Cole is a former Commander of the local chapter of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and will teach the class along with one other Auxiliary member.

Typically in the spring/ summer months, visitors begin to converge on Lake Hartwell and many are novice or inexperienced boaters.

Cole says it’s very important inexperienced boaters take a boater safety class, especially because of the different kinds of watercraft typically on the lake.

Topics Saturday will include boating law, safety equipment, boating emergencies, and Georgia and South Carolina regulations.

You may already consider yourself an experienced boater and have driven boats on other lakes, but according to Cole, if you are new to Lake Hartwell you should not assume boating will be the same on Hartwell Lake.

For one thing, Cole said Lake Hartwell is considered a “navigatable” lake.

Cole said this is a certified class and most insurance providers will give a boat owner a discount if they can prove they’ve taken the class.

The limit is 25 per class and there are still openings for the Saturday class available.

To register or for more information on the boating safety class this Saturday put on by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, you can contact Cole at (706) 714- 714-7049 or email him at [email protected].