Posted on 05/31/2021 6:43:21 AM PDT by VRW Conspirator
Safe Boating Tips
No matter how much experience you have, it’s always a good idea for everyone to review boating safety rules before departures. Below you will find 10 basic boating safety tips to help you stay safe:
1.Be Weather-Wise
Always check local weather conditions before departure; TV and radio forecasts can be a good source of information. If you notice darkening clouds, volatile and rough changing winds or sudden drops in temperature, play it safe by getting off the water.
2.Follow a Pre-Departure Checklist
Proper boating safety includes being prepared for any possibility on the water. Following a pre-departure checklist is the best way to make sure no boating safety rules or precautions have been overlooked or forgotten.
3.Use Common Sense
One of the most important parts of boating safety is to use your common sense. This means operating at a safe speed at all times (especially in crowded areas), staying alert at all times and steering clear of large vessels and watercraft that can be restricted in their ability to stop or turn. Also, be respectful of buoys and other navigational aids, all of which have been placed there to ensure your own safety.
4.Designate an Assistant Skipper
Make sure more than one person on board is familiar with all aspects of your boat’s handling, operations, and general boating safety. If the primary navigator is injured or incapacitated in any way, it’s important to make sure someone else can follow the proper boating safety rules to get everyone else back to shore.
5.Develop a Float Plan
Whether you choose to inform a family member or staff at your local marina, always be sure to let someone else know your float plan. This should include where you’re going and how long you’re going to be gone.
A float plan can include the following information: name, address, and phone number of trip leader name and phone number of all passengers boat type and registration information trip itinerary types of communication and signal equipment onboard, such as an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)
6.Make Proper Use of Lifejackets
Did you know that the majority of drowning victims are the result of boaters not wearing their lifejackets? Make sure that your family and friends aren’t part of this statistic by assigning and fitting each member of your onboard team with a life jacket prior to departure. Wear it!
7.Avoid Alcohol
Practice boating safety at all times by saving the alcohol for later. The probability of being involved in a boating accident doubles when alcohol is involved and studies have shown that the effects of alcohol are exacerbated by sun and wind.
8.Learn to Swim
If you’re going to be in and around the water, proper boating safety includes knowing how to swim. Local organizations, such as the American Red Cross and others, offer training for all ages and abilities. Check to see what classes are offered in your area.
9.Take a Boating Course Beginning boaters and experienced experts alike need to be familiar with the boating safety rules of operation. Boater education requirements vary by state; however, some require validated completion of at least one boating safety course. Regardless of your individual state's requirements, it's always important to be educated and prepared for every circumstance that might arise. You can learn boating safety rules by taking a local community course or online course to help educate yourself.
10.Consider a Free Vessel Safety Check Take advantage of a free vessel safety check from the US Coast Guard. They offer complimentary boat examinations to verify the presence and condition of certain safety equipment required by state and federal regulations. Free of charge, they’ll provide a specialist to check out your boat and make helpful boating safety tips and recommendations. They also offer virtual online safety checks as well.
The guy I boat with is also one of the pilots I fly with. We use basically the same positive control procedures and explicit delegation of responsibility launching/recovering the boat as we do in the cockpit. It really helps when everyone knows the plan - no surprises. And yes, the drain plug is on our pre-launch checklist. ;-)
I take exception to the added headline about Freepers being Lousy boaters.
We live on a 36ft sailboat, and, while we have touched bottom a few times, haven’t managed to destroy the boat, or, anyone else’s property. We’ve gotten close once or twice trying to get out of a slip (our boat has two directions: forward and random...but I have managed to get it to be less random with practice).
But, we live aboard and are not weekend boaters.
Another rule made for stupid people by stupid people. There is no way I am going to shut down my engine by pulling a pin every time I go to pull up a crab ring and the have to re-insert it to start my engine. Same for fish on.
Here’s a boating tip: leave most of your weapons at home.
5.56mm
This link is to an ad for our boat when it was for sale in Alabama back in the mid-teens. In one picture of the saloon area, there is a fly swatter under the wine-glass holder. We still have that fly swatter. She is no longer for sale.
https://www.vivaboats.com/ta-shing-tashiba-36/Sailboats/38957
How about, always use your blower.
I’m not talking about ocean going sailboats. I’m talking about inshore and just offshore runabouts and center console boats with deep gunwhales specifically designed for fishing. If I were crossing the ocean On a relatively light craft I’d surely wear appropriate safety equipment.
I sold my last boat 1.5 years ago. At my age it will certainly be my last.
put in the drain plug before launching
Sadly all my guns drowned in my multiple boating accidents.
Was out on a friend’s boat yesterday. There are always idiots on the water, always those who drunk too much on the water and those who motor way too fast for as many boats in the lake. The most obvious offenders of speed and recklessness seem to be the wave runners and jet skis. Most often they’re the 16 year olds with no fear for anything. Saw plenty of them yesterday.
Most lanyard have a wrist loop so no need to shut down engine, just remove from wrist. The only time you need it by law is when underway.
Saw a mem or whatever that said All my guns shot each other
The best bilge pump is a scared man with a bucket.
Had a tragedy a few years ago near us where some teens were out partying during a local holiday that celebrates local loggers (big industry around us), and ran over another boat killing several, including a young child. He took off, but witnesses identified some of the teens on the boat, and they arrested them, but the driver refused to admit he was out that day on the water. The family of the dead went through hell during the trial. The kid who was driving reminded me of how Vandersloot treated the mother and father of the girl he murdered.
They ended up banning boats on the water for partying reasons during the holiday because of that incident, and the wardens patrol pretty heavy on That day now. So now everyone goes and gets drunk on that day and drives on the streets.
underway; not made fast to shore, aground or at anchor.
I’m rebuilding an 80 mph boat now. I pulled the 800+hp engines and replaced them with 250hp. I also put on a cabin, so the stupid wrist lanyard doesn’t apply.
Every year we have an incident here where someone is washed out of one of the local bays and into the surf and drowns. Kayaks to power boats. I can see this law contributing to an incident.
More boating tips:
1- Always carry double the standard ammo loadout.
2- Remember, 20mm is more effective but you can carry twice as much .50 cal.
3- Paint Navy standard issue white tennis shoes black and use them instead of those dammed heavy combat boots.
4- Turn off the dammed running lights.
5- Replace the rear M60 with another MaDeuce.
6- It is better to use more firepower than less.
7- If in doubt shoot it.
8- The 12ga is good for “testing” anything you see floating downstream.
9- Concussion grenades are good for fishing.
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