Safety Basics For Boating
There are few things more fun than spending a day on the water in your boat surrounded by friends and family members. With the sun and the waves providing a perfect setting for relaxing and rejuvenating, you can spend the day engaging in a number of activities, from fishing to swimming. However, to ensure that your day goes by without a hitch, you need to follow some basic safety rules.
At H&W Marine Powersports, we care about the safety of all boaters, so we’ve rounded up some basic safety tips for you to peruse. It’s important to keep safety a priority when you’re out on the water, whether it’s the lake or the ocean or floating down the river. Following these tips will keep you and your passengers safe.
If you’re looking for personalized advice or boats for sale in Marshall, TX, or Shreveport, LA, visit our dealerships to see what we have in stock.
Plan Well
When you have a proper checklist of safety practices and safety gear for boating, you can even have safe impromptu trips. At least two people on board should know how the boat operates so one can take over if the other is suddenly unable to operate the boat.
Also, everyone going on your boat should know how to swim, even if their skills are rudimentary. If you have to jump ship or if someone goes overboard, they need to be able to keep themselves afloat until help arrives or you can pull them in.
You should also inform someone on shore about the route you’re taking and your itinerary. If you become stranded with no way of calling for help, this person will be able to contact authorities with a general idea of where you’ll be.
Know the Laws
Different states have different boat safety laws so make sure you know the laws of the area you’ll be boating in. Whether you choose to stay close to home or branch out a bit, you’ll want to be sure that you learn and follow all relevant safety laws. Some specific laws you should know are about right-of-way, age restrictions, life jackets, towing information, and boating license and insurance requirements.
Bear in mind that the operators involved in 80% of fatal boat accidents hadn’t taken any type of safety course. So it pays to be well-prepared and educated. The US Coast Guard, the National Boat Safety Council, the American Boating Association and many other groups offer safety courses. Taking a course can even lower your insurance costs!
Check the Weather
One easy but important safety step is checking the weather forecast for the day you want to go boating. The weather can change despite forecasts but at least you’ll have some idea of what the day will bring your way and you’ll be better prepared to handle any changes.
If the forecast signals anything grim, you should reschedule your boat trip for some other time. Some clouds or a little rain won’t interfere with your plans much but conditions like severe thunderstorms, heavy surf, and high wind conditions can be more dangerous. If you notice storm clouds brewing while you’re on the boat, it may be wise to get back to shore as soon as you can.
Boat Maintenance
Fuel and oil should be full and clean before departure—and coolant as well. If you’re in a powered boat, or a boat with liquid propane, always ensure that interior areas are well ventilated. If there’s any smell of fuel, turn on the blowers until you’re sure the smell is gone before restarting. If you can’t get rid of the fuel smell, there might be a leak you need to fix before you head out.
Your bilges should be dry and the pumps shouldn’t be running excessively. Batteries should provide power to the entire vessel. Spare batteries should be kept on hand for flashlights, handheld radios, etc. Make sure any rechargeable batteries are charged before leaving the dock.
It’s important to have the correct docking and anchoring equipment for your craft. You should also have enough dock lines and they should be in good shape. Always have your boat’s papers and a chart of the area you’ll be boating in with you.
Safety Equipment
Take your safety seriously by ensuring you have all necessary safety equipment. You should start by ensuring you have enough life jackets for everyone on board the boat. These should be well-fitting and be kept on while the boat is moving. Children should keep their life jackets on even when the boat is not in motion. Though they might be strong swimmers, it can be tough to climb back onto a boat, especially if the water is cold or they panic when they fall.
It’s also important to keep fire extinguishers on board your boat. The engine is always a fire risk on any boat, and since some boats even feature grills for cooking, a fire extinguisher is absolutely necessary. An emergency preparedness kit can come in handy during an accident. Your emergency kit should include an emergency radio, flares, a GPS, emergency reflective blankets, and a first aid kit.
Use Common Sense
Finally, when you’re out on the water, follow some best practices for the safety of yourself, your passengers and everyone else in the water. Don’t drink alcohol while operating a boat—not only will inebriation impair your ability to react to obstacles and focus on the task at hand, but alcohol reduces blood flow to your extremities. This means that if you go overboard, you’re more susceptible to hypothermia in the cold water.
Give other crafts a wide berth. Keep an eye out for any swimmers, water skiers or other people in the water and make sure you give them enough space, too. When you’re loading or unloading at the dock, remain patient and wait for others to finish before taking your turn. Steer clear of debris and shallow places so you don’t run your boat aground. If you do have an emergency or accident, stop the engine and signal or call for help, then wait for it to arrive.
We hope you’ll use these tips to have a safer time on the water! For more information or to check out some quality boats for sale, contact H&W Marine Powersports in Marshall, TX and Shreveport, LA and have a chat with our expert staff. We’re proud to serve all our patrons from Longview, TX and Bossier City, LA.