Werribee Coast Guard members began warming up for the Summer months last week. 84263 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By XAVIER SMERDON
AS WYNDHAM leaves Winter and residents start to be drawn back to the water in the coming months, boat owners have been urged to take their safety seriously.
Louis Farrugia from the Werribee Coast Guard, a 35 member strong volunteer group that keeps people safe on the water, said some people often forgot about the importance of maintaining their boats in the cooler months.
“At the end of September we enter the silly season and that’s when it starts to get really busy,” Mr Farrugia said.
“A lot of people don’t service their boats and then when they go out in September that’s when they have a lot of issues.”
Mr Farrugia said the most common issues the Coast Guard assisted with were flat batteries, running out of fuel, electrical problems and broken propellers.
Mr Farrugia said the Coast Guard had assisted more than 120 people in the last financial year.
“We carry out search and rescue of broken down and disabled vessels in our area of responsibility which extends from Williamstown footy ground to the Point Wilson Pier and we also assist the water police in searching for missing vessels on Port Phillip,” he said.
“Our major source of income is from our share of money paid by persons launching their vessels from the Werribee South boat ramp.”
For information about becoming a volunteer with the Werribee Coast Guard call Angelo on 0414 689 206.
