Monday, August 07, 2006

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Some boaters say they wouldn't dare be on the water after dark, but there is no evidence that night boating is any more dangerous than being out during the day.

Those who favor staying out a little later say the weather is cooler and the water less crowded.

Fred McCurdy, who lives near Lexington and has 16 years of boating experience, said he doesn't worry if he stays out on Lake Murray after sunset, but he does admit night boating requires more caution.

"You've got to watch out for others more than yourself," he said. "And I go where I'm familiar with. I don't go anywhere else."

Worries about the safety of boating at night came up after a woman was killed this month when her boat was hit after dark.

State and local officials say there is no evidence that night boating is more dangerous, but they do say that boaters often are ill-prepared for special nighttime needs.

"Too many are unprepared if an emergency happens," said Capt. Clark Rowe, a Lexington County deputy who has patrolled Lake Murray for 10 years.

State Department of Natural Resources officers do most of the patrolling on the 47,500-acre lake, with assistance from deputies in Lexington and Richland counties. Those patrols generally run from 8 a.m. to midnight each day and an officer is on call after midnight.

State officials say more boating accidents happen in daylight, though they couldn't provide statistics.

"It's a different lake then (at night), but we have nothing to show it's more dangerous," said Robert McCullough, a spokesman for the Natural Resources Department.

Night boating is rare except on holidays like the Fourth of July.

"Some nights, I can count them on one hand," Rowe said.

At night, state standards require most boats to be lighted when moving and all boats have to be lighted when anchored.

Some boaters, like Ken Fox, however, say they won't go near the water at night.

"I consider it extremely dangerous out there," he said.

Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com


