Improve your boating knowledge this summer 27 Jan, 2021 08:49 PM 2 minutes to read There had been an increase in new boat and jet ski purchases this summer. Photo / File There had been an increase in new boat and jet ski purchases this summer. Photo / File Bay of Plenty Times It's the perfect time to improve your boating knowledge, according to Water Safety Bay of Plenty and Coastguard Boating Education. Water Safety BOP said 29 per cent of preventable drownings in the Bay of Plenty in the past 10 years involved some form of boating and water safety advocates were concerned with the level of experience and knowledge on our waters.