It’s early Saturday morning at the Old Mill Yacht Club in Howard Beach and, not surprisingly, the Boy Scouts from Troop 45 of Maspeth — too young to have ever even sampled coffee — are falling asleep at the steering wheel.
   In order to earn a coveted water safety badge, as well as take to the waters the following day at Paerdegat Basin navigating solo in kayaks — supervised, of course — the boys are required to take an eight-hour course, called Operation Paddle Smart, created and hosted by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.
   Joseph De Angelo, vice flotilla commander of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Flotilla Commander Wesley Doody led the scouts through lessons about capacity, boat maintenance, trailering a vessel and the differences between various personal flotation devices. They were joined by Troop 45 Scout Leaders Fred Coltrinari, Donna Manetta and Mike Terry.
   As expected, energy levels suddenly ignited when the discussion turned to distress signals, fire extinguishers and personal watercraft, commonly known by the trade name Jet Ski, a favorite among young adults.
   “They’re low in the water and a big problem because young people sometimes operate them incorrectly,” Doody said.
   Aside from the Jet Ski, Doody said a number of accidents and injuries occur on canoes and kayaks.
   “Kayaks and canoes are a lot cheaper than boats, which makes them popular,” he said. “But they tip easier.”
   And, while there are strict laws that prohibit canoers and kayakers from being on the water between sunset and sunrise, their vessels lack motors, which makes it difficult to enforce a minimum age requirement for the sport.
   De Angelo spent months designing the curriculum, which covers everything from the aforementioned boat care and safety procedures to laws pertaining to water craft, radio regulations, accidents and, perhaps the most prevalent theme of the day, personal responsibility.
   Accountability was a key topic, whether it pertained to the importance of keeping waters free of manmade pollution and garbage or the dire need to always fill out a float plan so the Coast Guard can track a vessel’s whereabouts.
   “If you’re out fishing and the fish are biting, contact someone and let them know you’ll be out a little later,” De Angelo stressed. In other words, call if you’re going to be late — a dash of parental wisdom that proves particulary relevant on the sea.
   And for the parents of young boat enthusiasts, Doody offers advice: “Get in touch with experienced people and check around for local canoe clubs. Bay water is safer than ocean, in general, but people have drowned in three feet of water. Never canoe or kayak alone — and always file a float plan.”