A weekend tragedy at a York County State Park highlights the dangers of boating, bad weather and failing to respect that conditions can change at a moment’s notice. Hopefully, by reviewing some of the factors, someone else can escape the same fate.

According to available reports, a lone boater launched an unpowered vessel late in the day on Saturday, June 6 at Lake Marburg. Family notified authorities when the boater did not return home and a search commenced. The search ended June 9 with a call to the York County coroner’s office, which confirmed they had responded to the scene. Obviously, this means the search ended in a recovery and not a rescue.

Unfortunately, this tragedy could have been avoided.

Although poor weather was forecast, the resulting 60 mph winds, heavy rains and hail were much worse than predicted. These would have been dangerous conditions in any lake-sized boat, never mind an unpowered one. To make matters worse, it has not been reported that the vessel in question was a paddleboard.

The first thing to remember is that every boat has limitations. Taking any boat out in conditions that exceed its capabilities is a recipe for disaster, regardless of the weather. On top of this, it is important to remember your own limitations. Very few boaters have experience operating in extreme weather conditions.

Finally, there is safety equipment. Although it has not been confirmed yet, it is a good bet that the boater was not wearing a personal floatation device. Statistically, most fatal accidents in Pennsylvania involve people not wearing their PFD or not having one available. PFDs are vital pieces of equipment. Even if you can swim, having a PFD helps if you are injured or unconscious.

Over my more than 30 years responding to boat accidents, I can confirm that what happened at Lake Marburg is not unique. While many readers will ask, “How could this happen?” or “Why weren’t they wearing a life jacket?” It happens every day. No one expects an accident, and many boaters become complacent. But it only takes one mishap for you to become a victim.

I have no doubt that this person was confident in their abilities, having probably paddled Lake Marburg before. Even if they heard the weather report, they most likely believed it would be significantly less severe than what happened.

Safety Tips

•Know your watercraft and its limitations

•Know your own abilities

•Check the weather prior to hitting the water

•Make sure you have all your safety equipment

•Wear your PFD

•If conditions are worse than you expected, turn around and live to try another day

No day on the water is worth your life or the pain it will bring your friends and family.

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Tom Burrell is a retired Waterways Conservation Officer, veteran and lifelong outdoorsman. He now spends his days hunting, fishing and sharing his experiences with readers.