Jay Lloyd's Getaway: Preparing for Boat Rides

The recent tragedy on the Delaware River has left some concern about using waterborne transportation.

KYW's Jay Lloyd notes that boating has its risks, but they are outweighed by its pleasures:

When I was a kid in New York City, a five-cent ride on the Staten Island Ferry was like a Caribbean cruise.  But as we know, even that venerable craft has had fatal accidents.  A ferry was also the only way to get to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

In Baltimore, the best way to get around the waterfront sights, attractions, and restaurants is by water taxi. That, too, has had its problems.

So, what to do?

Personally, on my own boat, I always wear a life jacket. On commercial ferries, water taxis, and river barges, I know where the life jackets are, then stay close and alert.

When I have traveled with a small child, she had her own life jacket of the correct size -- and, like it or not, she wore it.

They can be bought for as little as $20. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind on a fun getaway.

From the water you can see sights that you can only dream about in a bus or taxi: for instance, the waterside view of lights on the Eiffel Tower, or the parade of quaint canal bridges in Amsterdam (top photo), or the Manhattan skyline on a Circle Line cruise (right).

Enjoy -- but stay alert!

(Photos by KYW's Jay Lloyd)