Boating Safety: Five-Minute Rule Everybody in Alaska knows somebody who died in a boating accident. In one year, Alaskan Mike Folkerts lost two friends in separate boating accidents. "First, I got mad," said Folkerts. "Then, eventually I decided to do something about it." Folkerts, at various times a bush pilot, hunting guide and business manager, finally sold his plane and...

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Spare Me A few simple extras can save your day.

A Pain in the Boat You never know when minor accidents could happen in a boat, only that, in time, you’ll be faced with them.

Can You Hear Me Now? The most common communication over a VHF radio is simple -- "radio check."

Boaters Tips In a thunderstorm always keep one hand in your pocket. If both hands are touching metal, you stand a better chance of completing a circuit if you get hit by lighting. One hand in your pocket can help prevent this

NASCAR's Labonte Brothers: On board with USCG The Labonte brothers from NASCAR will appear in public-service announcements for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Fuel Drill Are you a fire hazard at the pump?

Safe Passage We can't stress this point enough: Boating is fun dependent on safety. It doesn't matter that you can outrun anybody on the lake or that you always have two coolers fully stocked. Miss the channel and run aground with only your vocal chords to communicate and you'll wish you'd brought breakfast instead of sodas.

Tight Squeezes As I look out my office window down into the street, I am constantly amazed by how inept most people are at parallel parking. Drivers pull up, try four or five times, give up and drive away. Others manage to park, but 6 feet away from the curb. It reminds me of Woody Allen deadpanning to Diane Keaton, "That's all right. I can walk to the curb from here."

Maximum Security McGard, the company famous for wheel locks, offers an anti-theft lock nut system for stern-drives.

Boating Safety Grants Available The BOAT/U.S. Foundation for Boating Safety is offering grants of up to $5,000 for local boating safety projects.