INTRODUCTION
For over 100 years, the importance of good
boater judgment, or boating decision-making
(BDM), has been recognized as critical
to the safe operation of recreational boats,
as well as accident avoidance. The airline
industry, motivated by the need to reduce
accidents caused by human factors, developed
the first training programs based
on improving DM. The boating industry
and USPS, documenting a similar need
for sound decision making, is now implementing
BDM education and training with
focus on the effective use of all available
resources: human resources, hardware,
and information supporting BDM to facilitate
cooperation among all boaters and
improve decision-making. The goal for all
boaters is good BDM.
As a recreational boater, you will
most likely be the helmsman, lookout and
captain, and you are the decision maker
(DM). The importance of learning and
understanding effective DM skills cannot
be overemphasized. While progress
is continually being made in the advancement
of boater training methods, boating
equipment and systems, and services for
boaters, accidents still occur. Despite all the
changes in technology to improve boating
safety, one factor remains the same: the
human factor which leads to errors. The
most frequent causes of accidents are: lack
of boating safety knowledge, operating in
heavy weather, use of alcohol, overloading,
operator inattention, no proper lookout,
and disregard of navigation rules It is estimated
that approximately 80 percent of all
boating accidents are related to human factors
and the vast majority of these accidents
occur on clear, calm days in calm seas.
Boating Decision Making, BDM, is a
systematic approach to risk assessment and
stress management. To understand BDM is
to also understand how personal attitudes
can influence decision-making and how
those attitudes can be modified to enhance
safety in all aspects of boating. It is important
to understand the factors that cause
humans to make decisions and how the
decision-making process not only works,
but can be improved.
This Appendix focuses on helping
the boater improve his or her BDM skills
with the goal of mitigating the risk factors
associated with boating. Government,
State and U.S. Coast Guard directives are
discussed in this course and provide background
references, definitions, and other
pertinent information about boating that
complement BDM training and implementation
in the general boating environment.
BRIEF HISTORY
Congress enacted the Motorboat Act of
1910, establishing the first federal laws
requiring lights, whistles, life jackets, and a
way to extinguish fires aboard motorboats
up to 65 feet in length.
In 1940, facing a rapid growth in
motor boating and a need to address the
growing number of accidents occurring
with this increase in recreational boating,
lawmakers enacted several amendments
1
2
3
4
5
6
Appendix E
Boating Decision-Making
249