Boating Safety Tips

When the sun comes out to play, you’re probably looking for an excuse to get outside and enjoy the nice weather. As the proud owner of a boat, you don’t need an excuse! Many marine adventures await you. Before you can get out and enjoy all the pleasures of boating, it’s important to learn about proper safety. Your friends at Germaine Marine in Arizona and Utah have got you covered. We’ve gathered some essential boating safety tips below.

Plan Ahead

Start by making a checklist of what you’ll need to have a safe boating trip. Everyone in your party should know how to swim. No matter how good of a swimmer someone might be, they still need to wear a well-fitting life jacket. Your craft should also have a throwable flotation device in case someone falls overboard.

Make sure that at least one other person on the boat knows how to operate it. If you’re unable to do so, someone else needs to be capable of safely navigating the boat back to shore. On that note, remember to go over the safety rules with each passenger, which includes letting them know where the emergency supplies are located.

Another key part of the planning process is to let someone back on land know where you’re headed and how long you’ll be gone. Check in with this person periodically, especially if you’ll be at sea for a while. If you don’t return home at the scheduled time, this person can inform rescue crews of your intended whereabouts.

Obey Laws & Regulations

You’ll also want to take some time to earn the laws and regulations in your area when it comes to boating. If you’ll be traveling to another state by boat, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with those laws, too. Look these up in advance and be sure you’re following them during your trip.

Always carry your license, registration, and insurance documents with you on your craft. As a safety precaution, you should make copies and keep the spares at home in case the originals become damaged. The ones you keep on your boat should be securely stored in a waterproof folio.

Check the Forecast

Remember to check the weather forecast before you head out for a day on the water. It would be wise to check well in advance of your intended departure day. After all, you don’t want to get caught in severe weather conditions that could put you and your passengers in danger.

There are specific conditions you should be looking to avoid, including extreme cold, high winds, heavy rainfall, hail, lightning, or even something as dangerous as a hurricane. If any of these conditions are in the forecast, you should postpone or cancel the trip. When you know what to expect before you hit the water, it’ll help you be better prepared to deal with it when the time comes.

Address Maintenance Needs

Last but not least, you need to confirm that your vessel is in pristine condition before you go. You should never assume everything is in order based on your last trip. Always perform a visual inspection of every aspect of the boat. Top off your fuel tank and make sure that the oil is clean and also topped off. Check your battery for any signs of corrosion and take the time to tighten any loose connections. Examine your safety equipment to see if anything is damaged or missing and needs to be replaced.

We certainly hope out boating safety tips have been helpful. If you’ve still got questions or you’re still shopping for the perfect boat, visit our dealership! Germaine Marine proudly serves Arizona and Utah.