Boating Safety Basics
On a bright, sunny day when the wind is mild and the surf is calm, you can’t have much more fun than what you’ll have on your boat. But what about on days when conditions are bad enough to become dangerous? And what happens when some unforeseeable situation upturns your otherwise nice day? Staying safe on a boat requires reducing your exposure to the hazards you know about and having the plan and equipment necessary to deal with the problems you can’t foresee. Read on to learn about boat safety. When you want to look at excellent boats that are built for safety, stop by New Jersey Outboards. We have a full line of new and used boats from all the top manufacturers. We’re conveniently located for customers in New Jersey and New York, and we proudly serve customers from Connecticut, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Preparation
Ensuring a safe boat ride requires reducing the amount of exposure you have to all the hazards you know exist, and the best way to do that is to do research and be prepared for any outcome. Weather is perhaps the most important variable in boating safety. While you might wake up expecting a bright and sunny day, it’s easy for a storm system to move in without a moment’s notice, and in no time you could facing pouring rains and driving wind. The more time you spend on the water the more you’ll need to start finding the best weather data you can. Find quality sources and then ask other boaters at the marina what they’ve heard about the weather, too. If you know there’s a chance of extreme weather, stay at home and wait for another day.
You should also be sure to give a float plan to someone on shore like a family member or a member of law enforcement. A float plan is basically just a loose itinerary of where you plan to go and when you plan to go there. When accidents happen on the water, the sooner help can be alerted, the smaller the search radius, and the better chance you and your party will be found.
Equipment
If preparation helps you to avoid big accidents before they happen, your equipment will help you deal with accidents as they unfold. First, you’ll need fitted life jackets for every person on the boat. This is one of those pieces of equipment that really shouldn’t be negotiable. Even if you can swim, a boat crash might leave you in a position to not be able to swim on your own. A life jacket will help to keep you afloat even if you can’t.
In addition to life jackets, you’ll also want to bring along one or more fire extinguishers. There are several types of fire extinguisher on the market, but you’ll probably want one meant to put out electrical fires and one meant to put out fuel fires. An emergency preparedness kit is also crucial. Most kits like this will feature things like signal flares, space blankets, a GPS beacon, and some basic first aid supplies. You might want to include a few gallons of clean drinking water in addition to whatever you would normally bring on the trip, especially if you’re going out on saltwater.
Being Smart on the Water
With good preparation and the right equipment, you’ll be in a much better position once you finally get out on the water. But your job’s not over! It’s important to take safety seriously as you’re actually boating. Never operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol, recreational drugs, or prescription medication. Also, try to avoid overcrowding your boat. It’s fun to bring as many friends as possible on boat outings, but having too many people will increase the weight of the boat, making it handle worse and be more likely to tip. (This is an especially notorious problem for pontoon boats where people throw parties.) Always give other boaters plenty of space to move and use your horn or a safety whistle to alert them should you need to pass. When a swimmer is in the water, raise your flag to let other boaters know. If you see a swimmer in the water near you, slow way down and give them plenty of space.
A key pillar of boating safety is to have a boat that’s well-maintained and able to handle whatever nature throws at it. If your boat needs parts or services, don’t hesitate to stop by New Jersey Outboards. We’re conveniently located for residents of New Jersey and New York, and we proudly serve Connecticut, Delaware, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.