Safe Boating Week arrives as Tims Ford gears up
Tennessee has already recorded eight boating-related fatalities this year, including two reported on Tims Ford Lake
4:28 p.m. May 14, 2026
DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor
As Memorial Day weekend approaches and Tims Ford Lake prepares for its first major rush of the summer, state wildlife officials are asking boaters to do the things that save lives: wear a life jacket, keep a sober operator at the wheel, and pay attention.
The message comes as Tennessee has already recorded eight boating-related fatalities this year, compared with five at the same point in 2025, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
The urgency also has a direct local connection. TWRA has identified two boating-related deaths on Tims Ford Lake already this year – one in March and one in April. In both cases, TWRA said the person was not wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device.
Gov. Bill Lee has proclaimed May 16-22 as Safe Boating Week in Tennessee, joining TWRA and boating safety partners across the country in reminding boaters to prepare before the unofficial start of summer. Memorial Day weekend falls May 23-25 this year.
Safe Boating Week is meant to get boaters thinking before the holiday crowds arrive. For Moore County and the surrounding area, that message lands close to home. Tims Ford Lake draws boaters, anglers, paddlers, swimmers, campers, and lake visitors from across southern Middle Tennessee throughout the summer.
On a holiday weekend, the lake can quickly become a mix of fishing boats, pontoons, personal watercraft, kayaks, swimmers, and shoreline traffic. Anyone who has spent a warm Saturday on Tims Ford knows how fast a quiet cove can turn busy. That makes simple habits – keeping a lookout, watching speed, knowing the lake, and paying attention to other boats – especially important.
Fatalities Ahead of Last Year’s Pace
TWRA said the state is entering the summer boating season with more boating-related fatalities than it had at this same point last year.
The agency reported no boating-related fatalities during the 2025 Memorial Day holiday weekend and only one injury incident, which occurred on Watts Bar Lake. The goal is simple: make it through another holiday weekend without a fatality.
Much of that message comes back to life jackets.
TWRA’s message on life jackets is blunt: wear one every time. Officials also note that newer life jackets are lighter and more comfortable than many older styles, making them easier to wear throughout the day.
A life jacket stored under a seat cannot help in an emergency.
Simple Steps Before Leaving the Dock
Before launching, TWRA says boaters should handle the basics: check the boat, confirm the required safety gear is onboard, watch the weather, tell someone the plan, and make sure every passenger has a properly fitted life jacket.
Tennessee boating rules require one wearable personal flotation device for each person on board, including in canoes and kayaks. Boats 16 feet or longer must also carry a throwable flotation device.
TWRA also urges boaters to make a float plan. In plain English, that means telling someone on shore where you are going, who is with you, when you expect to be back, and how to reach you if something changes.
TWRA also recommends using an engine cut-off device, sometimes called an engine cut-off switch. The device can stop the boat’s engine if the operator unexpectedly falls overboard.
Weather is another concern. Conditions can change quickly on Tennessee lakes, and TWRA advises boaters to check the forecast before leaving and to keep an eye on the weather while on the water.
Boaters should know the lake and travel at safe speeds, especially near ramps, swimmers, crowded coves, and unfamiliar stretches of water. TWRA said nearly a quarter of reported boating accidents last year were caused by operator inattention or improper lookout.
Alcohol remains one of the biggest risks. TWRA says boating under the influence is involved in one-third of recreational boating fatalities. Authorities urge every group to designate a sober skipper before anyone boards the boat.
Boaters should also carry more than one way to communicate in an emergency. Cell phones can help, but dead batteries, wet screens, and poor service can turn them useless fast. TWRA says boaters should have more than one way to call for help.
Tims Ford Lake is one of the area’s great summer gathering places. Safe Boating Week is a reminder that a good day on the lake starts before the boat ever leaves the dock.
The best lake days are the ones that end with everyone back at the ramp, tired, sunburned, and safe.