Last year, 61 boaters died on Texas waters, the highest number of boating deaths in more than a decade.

Unfortunately, Central Texas has already seen its share of boating accidents and tragedies this year. Accidents can happen to anybody, but putting in some time to prepare for the worst can pay off in lives saved.

Boating safety rules are well-known but frequently neglected: Wear life jackets when the boat is in motion, designate a sober driver, have a plan in case of a fire on board, make sure all equipment is in working order and maintain safe driving practices, including paying attention to which boat has the right of way.

As all Central Texans know, weather here can change rapidly and drastically, so keeping track of weather conditions is also a must. Racing a thunderstorm to shore is like racing a train to the crossing — three things can happen and two of them are bad. Thunderstorms can spring up suddenly, and their high winds, lightning and hail can cause serious problems to boaters caught on the water.

It’s also important to have a “boater overboard” plan: People fall out of boats and into the water surprisingly often. It’s funny on “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” but not so funny in person. Even in daylight, it can be hard to locate somebody who has fallen overboard, and a nighttime search can quickly turn tragic, especially for a person in the water without a life preserver. A high-intensity spotlight is almost essential to dealing with nighttime boating emergencies.

And although “beer” and “lake” are happily linked in many boaters’ minds, driving a boat under the influence is just as illegal as driving a car while intoxicated. But unlike law enforcement officers on the road, officers on the water don’t need probable cause to pull a driver over. Make sure somebody on board is legal and competent to operate the boat.

As much as some dads wish this were true, 7-year-old kids don’t qualify.

Speaking of kids, it’s a law that they must wear flotation devices at all times, no matter how much they gripe and complain. There must be floatation devices, too, for everybody on the boat.

When the lake gets crowded, it’s important to know who has the right of way. For example, just because you’ve got the biggest boat or you’ve had the most beer, you don’t necessarily have the right of way.

A good place to learn about this and other boating topics can be found on the Centex Outdoors Web site. Click the “boating safety” button.

Lake Waco closings

The Lake Waco Corps of Engineers plans to close Lacy Point Access Area and Trailhead from May 18-21 and then again from May 25-June 19 for road work in the park.

The park, trailhead and boat ramp will be open for use during the Memorial Day weekend.