Data: As boating popularity surges, fatalities also rise
As boating popularity has surged during the pandemic, deaths in Connecticut waters have doubled this year, including two personal watercraft fatalities — the first since 2012, state and federal data show.
Since 2017, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has recorded 231 boating accidents involving 334 vessels, 49 of which were personal watercraft. During that time, there have been 23 incidents involving personal watercraft, including the two deaths reported this year, according to Will Healey, a DEEP spokesperson.
The watercraft deaths are among six fatalities on the water DEEP has reported this year — up from three in 2020 and two in 2019. But overall fatalities are still below where they were in 2017, when the state recorded eight boating fatalities.
“Boating activity during the pandemic has in
“You’ll see some accidents sometimes where the person said, ‘I tried to steer, but it wouldn’t go anywhere,’ because they weren’t on the throttle giving it the maneuverability.” Officer Dakota Flis, who serves in the boating division of DEEP’s Environmental Conservation police force
creased, and while unfortunately, the number of boating-related fatalities compared to past years has increased, we have not seen an increase in reportable incidents overall as
compared to previous years,” Healey said.
The Coast Guard, which gathers data on boating accidents nationwide, last year reported personal watercraft were the second most common vessel involved in accidents behind open motorboats.
All forms of boating
have increased during the pandemic, even all the way down to paddle boards, said Officer Dakota Flis, who serves in the boating division of DEEP’s Environmental Conservation police force. “We’re seeing a big increase in boating on weekdays and especially on the weekends,”
he said.
He said the majority of people “are following the rules” while riding personal watercraft. In Connecticut, riders are required to pass a personal watercraft certification course in addition to obtaining a safe boating certificate. Riders are also prohibited from operating personal watercraft at night, and are required to wear life jackets at all times.
Earlier this month, 59year-old Stephen Fabian’s body was recovered in the water after DEEP officials said boaters found his personal watercraft adrift on the Connecticut River in Haddam.
In July, 18-year-old Matthew Horvath was killed on a personal watercraft on the Long Island Sound in Milford. The recent Shelton High School grad was killed in a collision between two personal watercraft, officials said.
According to state data, these were the first deaths since 2012 involving personal watercraft — better known by the Kawasaki brand name Jet Ski, though other manufacturers include Sea-Doo and Yamaha’s WaveRunner line according to state figures.
The boats’ speed and maneuverability present trouble for some riders, Flis said.
“A lot of people like to go really fast on them,” Flis said. “Anytime you add speed to things ... it adds a little bit of danger.”
Novice riders also struggle with a handling quirk of personal watercraft — because the boats are powered by a directed jet of water, riders have to stay on the throttle in order to steer, Flis said.
“To steer them, you don’t just turn the handlebars like a dirt bike,” Flis said. “You turn the (bars) and hit the throttle at the same time.”
“You’ll see some accidents sometimes where the person said, ‘I tried to steer, but it wouldn’t go anywhere,’ because they weren’t on the throttle giving it the maneuverability,” he added.
He said boating accidents usually occur around congested areas with high traffic.
“We recommend to use a little bit more caution, boat a little more responsibly in the area where it’s congested.” Flis said.