A safe boating season is the goal for the Coast Guard’s service wing.

Like most Americans with a sense of duty to their country and their fellow man, Jim Beyea and Loretta Rindal are more than happy to be a part of the Coast Guard Auxilary and help boaters become safer on the water.

But they want people to know they don’t share some of the same duties as the Coast Guard.

“What we’re all about is education and safety and the environment,” Beyea said. “I think sometimes people do confuse us with the regular Coast Guard. We don’t carry guns, we don’t do military (activity,) we don’t do law enforcement.

“And we don’t want to. We’re a service organization.”

To fulfill their part and create more awareness on boating safety, Flotilla 48 will hold the first annual Boater’s Fair this Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bainbridge Island Commons.

The Auxilary will provide hot dogs, soft drinks and chips as they go over boat handling for singles and couples, how to follow traffic signs on the water, boating safety, how to tie knots and how to use your marine radio.

But the fair is only one part of what the Auxilary does.

They also provide free vessel safety checks, teach boating courses and provide support to the Coast Guard when needed, including search and rescue, safety patrols, assist boats in need and take part in a derelict vessel program, where they help take care of abandoned boats.

Beyea and Rindal were part of a crew that helped the Coast Guard patrol Seafair this weekend, handing out Dairy Queen coupons to kids who were wearing life jackets.

“We’ve got lots of different things that we as a volunteer organization do to promote safety in and around the water, whether you’re a boat owner or not,” Beyea said.

They also handed out 50 life jackets during the Grand Old Fourth celebration and they travel to schools to talk to kids about boater safety, which is a big deal to them.

They also have a tugboat called “Coastie” to act as a mascot and help kids become more aware.

“If we get kids at an early age and we can get parents to tune in, because they want to protect their children, it really tunes the parents in,” Beyea said.

Their concern about the safety of boaters was intensified with the deaths of boaters in the water in recent weeks.

A Makah tribal chief drowned when his canoe flipped over as he was taking part in ceremonial activities near Sequim; he was not wearing a life jacket.

Another recent incident involved a family going for a swim when their boat was blown away by the wind. The 18-year-old boy was able to swim back to the boat, but when he tried to throw life jackets to his parents, the wind carried them away from his parents, and they drowned.

Beyea said they took part in three rescues last winter, one of which involved a Bainbridge family.

“The educational pieces that we do and the safety pieces that we do are very real when we see two stories (about boating deaths) in the same week,” Beyea said. “We feel this is important stuff.”

Those who are interested in joining must be at least 17 and a U.S. citizen with no criminal background and an interest in boating.

Beyea said they go through the same training that the Coast Guard does except for the physical testing. The Coast Guard makes sure they’re thoroughly trained in first aid and other skills and are equipped to handle any situation when it arises.

Those who also have boats and use them during their time with the Coast Guard are reimbursed for their gas.

“People who join the auxiliary do so because they’ve got a sense of altruism,” Beyea said. “There are people who want to help out one way or the other.”

The Auxilary also holds a monthly meeting at the Commons at the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. that is open to the general public.

Beyea said they have had a variety of speakers come by and address the group, including a marine lawyer to talk about marine law and a container ship captain to talk about the dangers of sailing in their path.

At a future meeting, a doctor will talk about hypothermia and how it affects people.

To join, see www.kitsapcoastguard.org or call 842-3751.