New law requires contact info on unregistered boats to save first responders time and money

NEW LONDON, CT. (WFSB) - A new Connecticut law requires current contact information to be listed on unregistered boats like kayaks, canoes and paddleboards.

The law is designed to save first responders time and money when they find an unmanned boat.

First responders assume the worst if a boat is found unmanned and start a search and rescue, said Vern Skau, New London fire chief.

The new law allows emergency crews to determine if the boat drifted away or if someone is in danger.

“This will allow an incident commander to make a decision based on whether he knows if that vessel drifted away,” Skau said. “If he makes a phone call to the owner and they acknowledge it drifted, you can downscale the emergency response.”

New London Fire responds to six to eight calls like this a year, Skau said.

Small rescue boats can cost upwards of $2,000 an hour. Certain Coast Guard helicopters cost $20,000.

Peter Francis, Connecticut DEEP boating division director, recommends putting two phone numbers on the boat.

“If you have your phone with you and you go overboard, that’s not going to help us when we reach out to try and find you,” Francis said.

DEEP is offering free identification stickers for boat owners to use. More than 10,000 have been requested so far. Boat owners can also list the information themselves.

Mike Lane of Mystic, who loves to paddleboard, said the rule change is a good idea.

“If you are worried about falling and maybe losing your stuff, then yeah,” Lane said.

The law also applies to rental places like Adventure Mystic, which has ordered 50 stickers from DEEP.

“If, God forbid, something happens, we don’t want to have any of our watercrafts gone missing or lost,” said Melissa Hartley, manager of Adventure Mystic.