Posted on 05/27/2019 5:58:02 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 best boating tip I learned from my father and his uncontrollable boat-envy...don’t buy a boat.
Yes particularly if there are guns you want hidden. LOL8
LOL. GMTA. Please see my previous post!
LOL. GMTA. Please see my previous post!
Yes isn’t that a shame. We Freepers think alike.
11. If you are sinking and at least one of your engines are running but the bilge pumps arent. You can close the sea cock valve to the engine and pop the hose off to pump all the water out of the bilge. Dont attempt this if you have no valve you will sink faster.
Excellent advise. There is absolutely no reason to be on the water after dark. vision, landmarks, distance and lights all become distorted, even for experienced boaters. In fact, after years of boating on the Great Lakes, we were on the water barely a handful of times after dark and mistakes are easily made, even with great equipment.
“But admittedly it does require some preparation, a healthy does of caution, and lots of money.”
BOAT is an acronym: Bust Out Another Thousand.
I’ve owned 5 boats in my lifetime. There will not be a sixth. Owning a boat is akin to standing naked in a cold shower while tearing up $50 bills.
L
LOL please see my previous post. As I mentioned, FReepers think alike
I keep dropping my firearms from the boat. Is there any way I can make sure that I can retain them. My wife if getting tired of this crap.
I watched both my brothers go through the Jeep and boating phase.
I participated in the fun and the parties. I even bought gas for them.
I was noticeably absent when dealing with engine problems and electrical systems.
No thanks. I bought a kayak. 15 years ago. The engine is a little slower now, but it still works just fine.
Be sure to send in your boat insurance premium.
And, remember, if 300hp is fun 900 hp will be even more fun.
Hull Flying
It’s a way of life.
Here in the Midwest the boating season is about 16 weeks long, and that’s pushing it. When I finally did the math I figured out that those fun weekends, really about 2 days, were costing me about $3,000 each give or take.
Pay to drop it in the water.
Pay to store it out of the water.
Pay to winterize it.
Pay to un-winterize it.
Marina gas 30% more than street gas.
Pay to slip it over night.
Carry a spare EVERYTHING. Prop, radio, anchor, ropes, life jackets, and on and on and on.
Anything that says “Marine grade” on the package is twice as much. Buy it anyway because if it’s not it will fail.
A kayak looks pretty good. Maybe a canoe.
L
We live on our boat and travel 1500 to 2500 NM a year. We’re very conservative,cautious boaters. Number 1 is weather. We use 3 or 4 weather sources when planning a passage. Number 2 is communications. We have VHF radios and three different satellite links. We use checklists for most things we do on the boat. Most of the boaters we meet who have our same lifestyle are careful boaters. We love living on our boat. Sold our house,trucks and got rid of most of our crap years ago.
A list of the Top Ten Reviews is available here: Top Ten Reviews.
We live aboard also, but, just starting our journey. In fact, we’re stuck in Brunswick, GA waiting for a mechanic to check our engine. We think it’s an injector issue, but, won’t know for sure until he gets here. We’ve changed the filters, but, want a professional opinion.
We follow the list.
Once we DO get going, I am hoping we can make it as far north as Boston. I want to see a baseball game in Fenway.
My buddy and I followed all these rules at the age of five … except #7.
Is this supposed to help you not lose all your guns in a tragic boating accident?
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