LOUDON COUNTY, Tenn. (WVLT) -- "I just want to make sure you have a couple of life jackets on board. You got 'em just hold up two of 'em for me. Wonderful."

The unofficial start to summer is also the official start of the boating season. But before you cruise the East Tennessee waterways, the T-W-R-A says there's no substitute for being smart.

'You've got to be careful. You've always got to pay attention to who's on your right and who's on your left, " says Andy Collins, Assistant Supervisor with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. "You know that's how boating accidents happen. We had 20 fatalities last year."

Rules of the water differ from the rules of the road, unless you're drinking and driving. And just because there are no yellow lines and street lights, it's still a major offense.

"Obviously it's against the law to be impaired out here on the water and unfortunately there's a lot of people that think you need a six-pack to operate a boat. We don't give anyone out here a break for that and we take it very seriously."

Couple of things regarding safety to tell you about as you get set to put your boat in the water this memorial day weekend. First of all, everyone on board needs to have a life jacket, but not necessarily wear one, but if you have kids 12 and under they have to wear one. Otherwise you're going to get stopped and get a ticket. And also you need one of these. A coast guard approved throwable device. It's not only important to have one on board, you have to have it readily available in case someone goes in the water.

One boat was stopped for a routine safety check, and although most was in order, Billy Willis had a difficult time finding what could be a life-saver.

"If you notice he had to dig to find that throwable device," said Collins "It's going to take him, especially in a panic, a long time to find that throwable device so that's why it needs to be immediately accessible ot at least readily accessible."

"Yeah with a bigger motor and some of these waves it can flip you off if you ain't careful," said Willis.

With so many boats in the water over the next three days, a combination of courtesy and common sense should make for a safe and fun memorial day weekend.

"It's kinda like being on the road though you know. You can do what you can but it's the other one's you have to worry about."