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.
In some States the same laws for drunk driving in cars is also applied to boats.
post picks when she’s done!!
I inherited a 17’10” BassTracker with a Mercury 115 hp outboard. It has not been on the water in several years.
Any tips or honest suggestions would be appreciated. the boat was well taken care of but has sat for close to 4 years.
I am looking to take a boating safety course online as well.
TIA
I take it it is a 2 stroke, if oil injected have a mechanic insure the injection system is working properly. Do not attempt to run without a set of ears for your water intake. Running a waterpump dry can ruin it in just a minute or so.
I take it it is a 2 stroke, if oil injected have a mechanic insure the injection system is working properly. Do not attempt to run without a set of ears for your water intake. Running a waterpump dry can ruin it in just a minute or so.
Also remember your channel markers, downstream green on right red on left, upstream red on right, green on left. I live off the ten. river in NE Alabama and many of the creeks have a narrow channel but are usually marked with buoys, and many of the shallow areas have lots of rocks.
I also take exception to the first tip when it mentioned "TV and Radio" as the source to get an accurate weather forecast. In the internet age, that is actually the WORST way to get the latest weather. There are many apps that will give you very detailed weather for a very localized area. (Dark Sky is my favorite but I think that's only available on Apple devices these days).
As for #7, C'mon, I don't think I've ever been on a private boat where there wasn't a cooler or two of cold brews. But of course, the skipper should stay sober.
That’s our rule too....don’t fall off the boat.
Yes, take it to a mechanic. I do almost all of my outboard repairs and maintenance, but that is after I have learned my engine.
Besides Weather Underground, we use Windy. Keeping us safe for a while now.
That is exactly what I am going to do.
Yes, take it to a mechanic. I do almost all of my outboard repairs and maintenance, but that is after I have learned my engine.
Not much need to be concerned about the boat itself, but hopefully the engine was stored properly and maintenance performed at least once a year...
IAC, don’t simply try to start it up before taking it to a certified Merc mechanic for inspection...
3. Use Common Sense or the lack of!
I am on Mille Lacs lake in Minnesota where dozens of boats will pack together and drift all along as we fish. You will then motor outside of the area around everyone slowly when you reach the end of the drift.
There was this one person who lacked common sense and decided to gun the motor of a 16ft boat with 4 bench seats so the bow was so high they could not see straight ahead and we were in his way...
First you do not speed thru an area where other boats of fisherman are fishing. You create big wakes and second you do not race thru the area when you cannot see where you are going!
The guy in the front of the boat turned around just in time to see us and yelled to the driver who maneuvered around us but caught our lines and snapped them off. I was thinking of diving off the boat before he turned the boat. He never slowed down either!
11. You forgot the plug again, dumkopf.
#29 That is pretty cool. I would like to see how they reverse : )
This guy has women sail around with him in bikinis. He has a type...
https://youtu.be/mai1Aquxlsc?t=34
Makes money sailing around. He was at 40,000 subscribers and 10 million views only a few years ago and making about $4,000 a month. He now has 350,000 subscribers and I do not know the # of views but he is making good money. His name is Bobby and he always looks toasted. In one video I swear he loaded at least 12 cases of beer onto the boat and he had no passengers. I think he uses it as ballast...
The women in the video here Taylor Francis started with him a year and a half ago and now has her own channel and has 163,000 subscribers in her first year. I think she is 21 years old and owns a 28ft sailboat. You can see why she has so many subscribers.
Saying Goodbye to Taylor - S6:E38
https://youtu.be/mai1Aquxlsc?t=34
“... yet FReepers are such lousy boaters”
Speak for yourself
10. A mini-gun solves a lot of problems.
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