Posted on 05/22/2015 1:28:45 PM PDT by VRW Conspirator
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
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.
Charles Bronson to chick: “Here, let me tickle your tonsils”.
I was on Millacs Lake in Minnesota. It is big. About 12 x 18 miles. The way you fish is to find a spot then drift with the current. It is not unusual to have dozens of boats around you doing this.
Some yaahoo is going full tilt in his boat right down the middle of all these boats. The nose was up so high he could not see where he was going. The person perched in the small seat up front had to point out that he was heading straight for us. The guy turned but not before I was figuring out where and when to jump out of the boat. He did not slow down.
Another time a boat snag our lines. That one got away.
#18 they look like they all have er... flotation devices
I think I broke my funnybone.
Quite a few years ago I was camping at Lake Oolagah in Oklahoma. I think I was the only person in the campground. It was I think in April.
I had purchased a used military Carl Zeiss binocular and was sitting at a concrete pic-nic table. I was scanning the lake and noticed a sailboat overturned with two people sitting on it.
The temperature was in the 40s with steady high wind. They were also soaking wet. I went to the Ranger station and told them. I then went back and watched.
Pretty soon a Lake Patrol boat left a marina and soon had a rope on the sailboat and the passengers on board. They towed it to the marina.
I never heard anything more but I am certain they were in a life threatening situation.
Thanks, I just bought a 1974 14ft Sea Nymph v-hull with a 15hp Johnson outboard a couple days ago. It’s in great shape. Come to think of it, I was a young Marine then. Everyone needs to watch “7 person boat crash”
That is Awesome! We had a late 60’s model 16ft Larson Lapline when I was a kid. We had a great time with it.
(80hp Johnson OB)
I have found that people breathing was involved in 99.9% of all accidents.
The other .1 is classified.
I can manhandle the motor with no problem even at my age.
I bet that 80hp took two men and a boy to carry. Farm girl strong :)
Everybody forgets the plug... once. ;-)
Watch the weather and wear your life jackets. Just recently. Two men went out on the harbor. We had a quick pop-up storm, significant winds hit the lower half of the harbor, near where they went in. Boat was found idling in circles. Bodies were later recovered, neither had on life jackets.
Nothing like pulling away from the ramp and seeing
water rising at your feet...so I’ve heard.
Saw a couple of guys not ratchet the boat to the
trailor drop their Skeeter on the ramp.
I can’t see as well anymore and my boat is at the bottom of the lake so that leaves drinking tell my liver gives out.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.