Are you keen to start boating? When the weather warms up and the summer sets in, millions of Americans head to the rivers, lakes, and oceans around the country to enjoy some time by the water. Buying a boat gives you the best experience you could ask for on the water.
A boat gives you the chance to enjoy a deep-sea fishing trip or waterski around the lake with your friends. There are so many activities to do in a boat, and you get dozens of models t suit your boating activities.
From dedicated fishing and watersports boats to party boats, there’s a model out there to suit your needs. There are more than 12-million registered watercraft in the United States, so it’s a sign that many Americans enjoy the pastime of packing up their gear and stepping into the boat for a fun time on the water.
If you watch someone towing a skier around the lake or sitting out in the ocean angling, it looks like a lot of fun. However, don’t let the entertainment confuse you; boat owners need to be aware of the risks of owning and using a boat on the water.
Just like vehicle drivers have to understand the risks involved with motoring, boat owners need to be aware of the possible threats they face when out in their boat, especially with family and friends. Understanding the right safety protocols could end up saving your life or someone else’s life out on the water.
We put this list of boat safety tips together for people new to the boating lifestyle. Read through the list and ensure that you meet the safety criteria and understand the protocols before heading out onto the water for some fun.
Contents
1 – Ensure everyone Has a Life Jacket
Take a look at people boating around the lake, and you can immediately tell the people who prioritize safety from those who enjoy taking a risk. Just look at who’s wearing a life jacket and who decides to do without one on the water.
Data shows that 80% of fatal boat crash victims drown. Of those that drowned, 83% of fatalities occurred because the victim wasn’t wearing a life jacket. If you’re involved in a boating accident, especially at high speed, you may find yourself thrown from the boat into the water.
The water looks soft, but hitting it at high speed is like landing on concrete. The impact may knock you unconscious, leaving you in a face-down position in the water. During the commotion in the aftermath of the accident, people may be experiencing shock, and they might not look for you right away.
A few minutes unconscious with your head in the water is more than long enough for you to drown. Wearing a lifejacket could end up saving your life in this scenario. The lifejacket has a purposeful design, with the jacket’s ballasts keeping your head above the waterline. Even if you land face-down in the water, the lifejacket will turn you the right side up and keep you floating until the rescue team arrives. Always ensure you and every passenger on the boat wear a life jacket when you’re out on the water.
2 – Choosing the Right Life Jacket
If you own a boat that’s longer than 16-feet, you’ll need to equip it with a Type I, II, III, or V personal floatation device (PFD), as well as a Type IV throwable floatation device. Boats under 16-feet must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V PFD for every person on board. For emergencies, the vessel must also have a Type IV throwable device onboard the watercraft.
You’ll need to ensure that all the lifejackets onboard your watercraft have an approved Coast Guard number, and they must all be in working condition.
So, what are the different types of lifejackets that suit your boat and activities on the water?
Type I PFDs
The Type I PFD is also known as the “off-share” life jacket. These PFDs provide you with the best buoyancy of all types, and they suit to use in all waters, especially in rough seas or in remote locations where you may face hours or days on the water before rescue.
These jackets have the floatation ballasts on the front of the vest, turning you right-side-up in the water if you land face-down, preventing you from drowning.
Type II PFDs
Also known as “near-shore buoyancy vests,” the Type II PFD is suitable for use on calm waters inshore, like lakes and rivers. These jackets suit scenarios where you expect a quick rescue.
Type III PFDs
Type II PFDs are also called “floatation aids.” They are suitable for use in calm waters inland and provide a similar function to the Type II PFD.
Type IV PFDs
The PFDs are usually circular or tubular, and you probably see them on the sides of ships all the time. The floatation ring or tube connects to a rope, and you throw it overboard for the other person to grab.
You’ll use the rope to haul them back to the boat. Typically, these PFDs are only suitable if the victim is close to the vessel.
Type V PFDs
These PFDs are for special marine use. Some PFDs in this category include deck suits, inflatable vests, work vests, board-sailing vests, or hybrid model PFDs.
3 – Stay Sober
Approximately 15% of all boating accidents each year occur due to alcohol-related issues with the captain or the passengers. Sure, it’s fun to have a drink with your mates while you’re angling at that deep water spot.
However, alcohol numbs your senses and reduces your reaction time. Stay sharp on the water and leave the liquor at home. You wouldn’t drive your car drunk (hopefully), so why drive your boat drunk? Stay sober and keep the safety of your passengers in mind.
Don’t let your passengers overdo it with the drinking. They could end up causing a scene or problem, putting other passengers’ lives at risk.
4 – Take a Boating Safety Course
All new boat owners should take a boat safety course. You can apply for the course online or through registered training centers.
While the boat safety course is not a necessity to drive a boat, it’s a good idea to go on one to get a better understanding of the risks involved with boating and the appropriate responses in dangerous situations.
According to the US Coast Guard, around 70% of boat accidents occur due to driver error. It’s critical that you understand the marine rules and your captain’s responsibilities before launching your boat for the first time.
The Boat US Foundation offers free online boating safety courses developed for your state legislation and rules. We recommend you complete this course and also look at taking the official US Coast Guard safety course.
5 – Stay Away from the Cellphone
Like driving a car, using a cellphone while operating your boat is a risky move. Distracted driving can occur on land and in the water.
You could end up causing a severe accident if you’re not paying attention to your surroundings. Keep your eyes on the water and your senses on full alert whenever you’re out on the water.
6 – Don’t Overload Your Boat
Overloading the vessel is another significant cause of boating accidents, especially with jet skis and other PWCs.
Always adhere to your vessel’s load capacity and never overload. Overloading could put you and your crew at risk if the water turns rough out on the ocean, capsizing or sinking the boat.
7 – Stay at Safe Speeds and Obey Rules on the Water
Speeding on the water can be just as dangerous as traveling at high speed in a car. However, cars have seatbelts and airbags to protect you from a crash, and there’s nothing like that available on a boat. Taking a turn at high speed could flip the boat or toss the passengers into the water, causing severe injury or death.
Take note of the speed limits, especially in marinas and no-wake zones. When driving, always adhere to the rules, especially if traffic volumes are high in your area.
8 – Stay Ahead of the Weather
Imagine the scenario. You wake up to a beautiful clear morning and decide to take your friends out on a deep-sea fishing trip in your new boat. You drop anchor and start fishing as you reach the spot several miles offshore. In the space of half an hour, the sky begins to turn black, and the water starts getting rough.
Ten minutes later, you’re in the middle of a severe storm, and water is coming over the sides of the boat, causing you to start bailing to stop the vessel from sinking. Your friends are panicking, and you wonder how you’re going to make it out of this mess.
It’s important to check the weather before heading out on the water. Ocean conditions can change on a dime, leaving you in a precarious position. 2016 saw 41 people perish in weather-related boating accidents.
Keep a VHF marine radio on board and leave the NOAA weather alert channel on at all times. Look for a model with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) that connects to the GPS on your boat, providing you with emergency signaling capability when things go wrong at sea.
9 – Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector
After you fuel your boat, open the V-berth and hatches around the vessel and check for the presence of gasoline or diesel fumes. If you smell fumes, don’t start the ignition. Fumes could end up causing an explosion on the boat.
Exhaust fumes are also another problem for boat owners, especially in models with cabins, cuddy’s, or V-berths. The fumes could accumulate in the cabin, killing you. CO3 (Carbon Monoxide) is a deadly gas with no odor or taste, and you won’t even realize it’s there.
Install a CO3 detector and ensure you stay safe.
10 – File Your Float Plan
While it’s not necessary, you can increase the safety around your next boating trip by filing a float plan with the US Coast Guard before your excursion out onto the ocean.
You also have the option of telling people where you’re going before you leave for the trip and when they can expect you to return.
11 – Use Proper Docking Procedures
Docking the vessel is one of the most challenging aspects of being a new boat captain. Make sure you approach the dock slowly, ensure the boat bumpers are out to prevent damage to your boat and the dock.
If you’re docking in windy onshore conditions, bring the vessel around 2-feet from the dock, and the wind will gently coast you into the slip. Secure the boat with docking lines and check the tie before leaving the vessel.
If you’re docking in offshore wind conditions, compensate for the wind by approaching the dock at a 20 to 30-degree angle.
12 – Use Proper Anchoring Procedures
You might find it surprising that a single anchor might not be effective at keeping your boat in position.
To prevent the wind from dragging the vessel around at its leisure, you’ll need to drop two anchors at the bow in a v-pattern to avoid drift. If you want to stop the tide from lifting the anchor, you’ll have to drop it in water 20 to 30-feet deep.
13 – Take Your Boat for a Free Safety Check
Like your car, your boat requires regular servicing and maintenance to keep it “ship-shape.” The US Power Squadron and US Coast Guard offer you free safety checks for your boat at no charge.
You get a certified professional looking over every square inch of your boat to see if there are any hidden problems you might miss. Check with your local yacht club or marina to locate the facility in your area.
14 – Know Your Marine Radio Etiquette
When you’re out on the ocean, your VHF marine radio could save your life, or it could get you into a lot of trouble with the US Coast Guard. Understanding marine radio etiquette is critical for the safest and most enjoyable boating experience.
Channel 16 is a frequency dedicated to emergencies, and the US Coast Guard monitors it 24-hours a day. Please don’t use this channel for casual communications as it could choke the line and prevent the Coast Guard from intercepting emergency transmissions.
Use channels like 68 or 72 for casual conversation with other vessels. Never report a false rescue alert on channel 16. If the Coast Guard catches you making false emergency alerts, you could face a steep fine and possible jail time.
15 – Your Boating Safety Kit Checklist
Before you head out onto the water for some fun, run through this checklist for your boat. It’s important to complete the checklist before any excursion, whether you’re heading to the lake or the ocean.
Your safety kit could end up saving your life in an emergency, and the last thing you need is to forget it at home or to open it to find that it doesn’t have what you need to get the emergency under control.
First Aid Kit
Every boat needs a first aid kit. Whether you’re dealing with a hook in your finger or someone’s sunburn, you need the right medications and medical tools on hand to deal with any emergency scenario.
Flashlight
If you find yourself stranded out on the water at night, a flashlight could be your saving grace to alert people on land to your presence. It also helps navigate your way around the boat’s deck at night or locate things in the water in the darkness.
Duct Tape
If you spring a leak, plug it right away with some duct tape.
Whistle
An emergency whistle will alert people to your distress signal and your location.
Bucket
If water starts coming onboard, start bailing with your bucket.
Ropes
Ropes are critical for docking, securing items on deck, and pulling people from the water.
Dry Bags
A dry bag keeps your electronics dry.
Garbage Bags
You can use them as a temporary rain poncho in bad weather.
Mirror and Flares
These tools help attract attention to your location in an emergency.
Fire Extinguisher
If a fire breaks out onboard your vessel, you need to put it out immediately. The driver and the passengers should know how to operate the fire extinguisher.
Life Jackets
We’ve already discussed the importance of having the right life jacket on board, but it’s worth repeating.
Wrapping Up
If you’re out on the water, use these tips to keep you and your passengers safe. Most of them are common sense, but you’ll find it surprising how many other boats and captains break these rules.
However, just because someone else is doing it doesn’t mean it’s safe for you. Use common sense to determine the danger and risk involved with any situation out on the water.
