IMPORTANT, PERTINENT INFO ON BOATIN’ THE MIGHTY MO
Are you a Missouri River boater? Well then, you should definitely check out these links to broadcast news stories done by Omaha TV stations about boating on the Missouri River near Omaha this Memorial Day Weekend. See more boating tips on the Mighty Mo below the pics, too. Have safe weekend on the water!
http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/Return_to_the_River_152715995.html
http://www.kptm.com/global/story.asp?s=18610100
Here are some shots of the Missouri River around the Mormon/I-680 Bridge that I took today to give you an idea of what the river looks like there.
Missouri River Boating Tips
- Boats to be used on the river should be at least 14-feet long and powered by a motor of no less than 10 horsepower. Although some people try to use canoes on the Missouri near Omaha, it is not generally advised because of the swift current and many floating and submerged obstacles in addition to the large wakes created by big boats and commercial barge traffic. Most people simply don’t have the skill or the stamina necessary to canoe the Missouri.
- Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-Approved Life Jacket. In the river’s strong 9.2 to 11.5 mph current, swimmers and non-swimmers alike will need all the help they can get in the event a boat capsizes or they fall overboard.
- Make it a point to frequently check and monitor weather conditions.
- Understand and heed navigation buoys.
- Note river mile markers.
- No tying off to navigational aids (markers, buoys, etc.) on the river.
- Don’t anchor by the stern in the river current.
- The depth of the river and sandbars can change from day to day creating problems for the unwary boater. After heavy rains, watch for downed tree limbs, large tree trunks, and all other types of debris in the Missouri. Boaters should also be on the lookout for hidden obstacles just underneath the surface such as trail dikes which may be partially or totally submerged by fluctuating water levels.
- When landing your vessel, always land into the current.
- Don’t forget, the most important items that you can take on your Missouri River boating excursion is your common sense and good judgement!
