Stay Safe While Boating
It doesn't matter if you are sailing; in a speedboat, or in a small john-boat, safety is very important. Therefore, we will be going over a few safety issues.
Steps
- Be prepared: In most jurisdictions every vessel, regardless of length must have at least a minimum amount of safety equipment aboard at all times. Be sure to have on hand one approved life preserver of sufficient size for every person on board and other floating devices. If you are going to be out in the boat after dark, make sure that your lights are working. You should carry a flare gun for any emergencies, carry a container to bail water, if the boat should spring a leak. Experienced boaters carry a wax toilet seal aboard at all times. In the event the hull is holed, form the wax seal into a ball and ram it into the hull from the outside. Simply smooth the wax from the inside to hold it in place. This will usually stem the water ingress until you can make port. If your boat has an engine and a cooking appliance, fire extinguishers are usually required.
- Be a prudent skipper: Do not take a boat out on a day that is too windy or when the waters are too choppy or rough.
- Avoid sailing in channels or waters where there are lots of barges, tugboats, and especially speedboats. Wake/wave action have been known to swamp small craft.
- Anchor: Be sure that the anchor (and line/rode) that you have is of sufficient size and length to accommodate the size of your boat, or it could be dragged.
- Drive a speedboat at a safe speed so that you can control the boat.
- Stay Out: Do not take a boat in to places that are too swampy, especially if you see tree stumps sticking up out of the water, such as in coves or where the lake branches off.
- Stay Clear: Do not take your boat into water that is too shallow for the draft of your boat.
- If your boat has run aground, you'll need to be able to get the boat floating again. Therefore, it is wise to have on hand a large stick or a boat paddle in order to do that; thus you can push your boat off without getting out of the boat. Your anchor and rode can also be used. Simply take the anchor and rode (Don't forget to tie it to a bow cleat) out on a lifejacket as far as you can. Haul in on the rode and your boat should come free.
- Tell someone: Be sure to let someone know if you plan to go boating alone, and let them know of your whereabouts. Take a VHF radio and/or cell phone if possible.
- Stay Alert:Look out for people that are fishing, speedboats that are pulling water-skiers or tubes and swimmers.
- Boating and Fishing: If you do some fishing on your boating trip, be careful when casting your line...especially with others on board. Fish hooks can be very dangerous.
- Be aware: Seaweed, rope or fishing line can get wrapped up and around your boat propeller. Therefore, it is best to stay out of waters that have a lot of seaweed.
- Be Weather-wise:Always check local weather conditions for boating safety 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 heading for port as soon as possible.[3]
Tips
- You should always carry lots of drinking water and food with you while boating.
- Watch out for slippery decks, especially after a rain.
- Do not ruin your boating trip, by making bad decisions; such as making the decision to put out the anchor and swim in unknown waters.
- Always have a flare gun with you, just in case of any emergency!
- Let someone know where you plan to go and your expected time of return. Otherwise it may take others a while to know that you are even missing.
- Ref. to step # 6: Vehicles aren't the only thing that are dangerous if driven too fast, speedboats can also be very dangerous. If your boat should hit a wave going at an unsafe speed, you could end up being thrown out of the seat and going overboard, or tossed to the back of the boat, leaving the boat out of control and endangering other people as well.
- If you should decide to go in to the water; then be sure to wear flip flops, so that shells or whatever will not cut your feet. Plus, be very careful where that you walk, and watch out for sink holes...for sink holes are very hard to get out of.
- If you are on a boat that has a cabin and it should begin raining, watch out for others that may be trying to run to get inside the cabin. There have been cases where people were knocked overboard.
- If you stand up in a small john-boat or motorboat, be sure to position yourself so as not overturn the boat.
Warnings
- Watch the weather report for the area where you plan to go boating. If you see dark clouds in the distance once you are out on the water, head for a safe harbour; it is better to be safe than sorry.
- Do not ruin your boating or outing by drinking excessively. Plus be aware that there may be other boaters that have been drinking too much.
- Stay away from boating too close to jetties and dikes, for the rocks can damage your boat.
- Referring. to step 8: If you should get stuck on a sandbar, try not to gun your boat motor, for you may destroy your motor...and really be stranded.
- Be aware of the waves/wakes that other vessels make. These can be dangerous to small craft.
- Be sure to always carry sunscreen with you for sunburn can be very painful. If you are wearing sandals or flip flops don't forget that feet burn too.
- If your boat is tied up at a dock, be sure that it is secured in case of a bad storm. Boats have been known to end up a long way from where they were docked when storms packing strong winds have hit.
- Ref. to step # 7: A lot of boats have ended up at the bottom of a lake, due to people taking their boats where that they shouldn't; tree stumps can be very dangerous. Plus, swampy areas normally have a lot of snakes, and possibly alligators or crocodiles, depending on the area that you are in.
