BUFFALO, N.Y. — We are just 26 days away from the eclipse, and maybe you've thought about experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime event on the water.
On Wednesday, 2 On Your Side talked with two experts about what you want to do before April 8, if that's your plan.
"For those three minutes or so of darkness, it's nighttime. You'll see the stars. It will be beautiful," said Bill Zimmermann from Seven Seas Sailing of Buffalo.
Capt. Bill Zimmermann runs Seven Seas Sailing of Buffalo, and he's ready for people from all over the world to come to Buffalo for the eclipse.
"So there's going to be a lot of boaters that are experienced or inexperienced. Experienced with these waters, or not so experienced with these waters," Zimmermann said.
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He wants to make sure people have their life jackets and navigational lights or a flashlight if you're going to be in a canoe or kayak.
"But look out for people that are in danger. There's nothing like the obstruction of no lights seeing that there's a canoe ahead, but there might be some unruly people that are going too fast, but if you can find a safe place to anchor or stay away from things, and stay away from things like the walls, other boats, and just keep safe," Zimmermann said.
Ensign Bridgette Baldwin with the U.S. Coast Guard will be keeping people safe that day. She's spent the past six months getting ready for it.
"Just because it's 60 degrees and sunny outside, doesn't mean that the water is warm. We're actually expecting the water to be like 40 degrees on that day, so our concern is that people are getting out there and they're not really considering the temperatures, so 10 minutes in exposure in 50 degree or less water is actually life-threatening, so we just want to make sure that the equipment is there and on board, the boats are properly maintained, and a functioning radio so they can communicate with us, and other boaters," Baldwin said.
If you're going out on a boat, Baldwin says to tell friends and family what your plan is so if something happens, they can tell the Coast Guard.
Zimmermann is very experienced on the water, but he told us that he is staying put on land on April 8. He says he's handling this like it's July 4.
"When there's a whole mass of people with no rules and there's fireworks, they're out on the water, I don't rent boats for that event, and think about Saint Paddy's Day, if you like to go to pubs and things like that, it's not the best day to go to pubs because there's a lot of amateurs out there, so there's too many unknowns here. If the weather's good, it's going to be packed. If the weather's not good, that's another thing to be concerned about, but there will be a lot of people on the water that day, and just have fun if you're cautious, if you're very safe, you're going to be having a lot of fun," Zimmermann said.
Zimmermann is throwing a free watch party at Seven Seas Sailing at the marina at the south end of Fuhrmann Boulevard, where he says there is plenty of parking. They will have hamburgers and hot dogs. It's a family-friendly event and goes from noon until 5 p.m.