KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Summer, for some people, means hitting the lake.
Jason Evans, membership executive and the training captain at a boating club said boating fun comes with a certain responsibility. He said safety is his club's number one priority.
"It is freedom, it is relaxation, it is unwind it is recharging the proverbial batteries," Evans said. "We want to ensure every member's safety, which is the reason why we do offer the on-the-water training courses for all of our new members on top of the boat class that is going to be offered to the general community as of June 1, here at the Tennessee national location."
This is hands-on training to understand the rules of the waterway. It's important to have somebody who has been certified through the Coast Guard to show the proper rules and how to navigate the water, Evans said.
"We're actually putting you at the helm and in the driver's seat and showing you the real-world application so that you can understand all the environmental factors that play into this," Evans said. "We're going to teach you all of the controls engine controls, throttle, basic maneuvers, anchoring."
The most important factor is going to be docking, Evans said. He said it's not difficult, but requires patience from boaters.
Liz Evans, the Tennessee Nationals Freedom Boat Club manager, said Watts Bar Lake sees a lot of families.
Boating safety has a lot to do with drinking responsibly and one of the programs the club has is a "Sober Skipper Pledge."
"Obviously it is each person's responsibility on the water," Evans said. "We do promote that we don't drink and drive."
This Memorial Day weekend, the manager said the club is expecting a huge crowd and is prepared to give those classes at a lower rate than usual.
When out in the open enjoying freedom, Evans said the biggest thing is staying alert.
"Understanding where everything is around you, and your positioning on the boat and inside that channel when you're driving," Evans said.