Boat safety

Before taking your boat out on the water, it is vital to inspect it periodically to ensure it is ready for boating season. According to Boats.com, here are some things to help ensure your boat is safe for the season.

Fuel system

• Look at hoses, connections, and tanks for leaks or damage.
• Replace cracked, brittle or soft hoses.
• Test fittings and clamps to make sure they are secure.

Old fuel (from perhaps the year before) can degrade and pose a risk to your engine, explains Boats.com. The same rule applies if there have been big temperature swings – which can lead to condensation in the fuel tank, mixing water in with the fuel. In either case, you'll want to drain the fuel system and fill it with new fuel.

Electrical

• Look over the electrical connections and ensure that they are clean and tight.
• Clean corrosion from terminals and cables.
• Test the battery and, if necessary, charge it.

Belts, hoses and cables

• Replace any belts, cables, or hoses that are damaged.
• Make sure the belts are tight around pulleys.
• Check steering and throttle cables for any kinks and ensure the connections are tight.

Getting your boat to the water is just the first step to a great day of boating. Here are some tips for getting your boat into the water safely.

Create a float plan before you leave

Before you get on the water you should create a float plan, Discover Boating recommends. A float plan lets someone on shore know where you're going and other important details.

• A visual description of your boat, including make and model, and vessel identification number.
• The number of people on board.
• Departure details, including the name and location of the marina.
• Your tow vehicle's location and plate number.
• The destination and route of your trip.
• Your estimated time of return.
• A way to contact you, such as phone numbers, radio, or satellite phones.

Watch the wake

While you're cruising, your vessel kicks up waves, also known as a wake. A speeding vessel's wake can cause damage to other boats and even injure passengers, which is why you need to pay attention to posted wake zones. Oregon.gov explains that wake is created by three different operating speeds:

• Displacement speed: At the slowest speed for motorboats, the bow will be close to the water, creating the least amount of wake.
• Transition speed: As you add power to get to planing speed, the bow rises. Transition speeds create the most amount of wake.
• Planing speed: As you settle into your planing speed, the boat levels out. This will leave less wake than the transition speed. Note that larger boats are not designed to reach planing speed.

Manners for launching and docking

Preparation, efficiency, and consideration are key to proper ramp and dock etiquette, according to Boats.com, which offers the following tips for proper dock and ramp etiquette:

• Be prepared. Make sure your boat is ready to go before you pull onto the ramp. Load gear, get lines ready, remove tie-downs and test the engine in another area so that other boaters can access the ramp while you prep. When you are ready to launch, have a driver in the boat so that the boat can be started as soon as it's in the water.
• Practice your job. Whether you're driving the tow vehicle or will be driving the boat, be ready to do your designated job. If you're inexperienced when it comes to backing your trailer down the ramp to the water, practice maneuvering your trailer in an empty parking lot or other vacant space. The boat driver should be ready to start it up once the craft is in the water.
• Be courteous. If passengers are not ready to board, idle away and return to the ramp or dock when they are ready. When you return, drop off passengers and idle the boat away until someone returns with the tow vehicle and trailer. The driver should get the boat into position as the tow vehicle approaches. When reloading the boat onto the trailer, do not accelerate to "power load" the craft – this can create shallow sand bars near the ramp.

Here are some tips on how you can tow your boat safely. Before your trip, Discover Boating recommends:

• Find out if your vehicle has the proper towing capacity for your boat and trailer. You can also check that your trailer hitch is rated appropriately for the job.
• Make sure that your vehicle and trailer are in good working order, with proper tire pressure.
• When you load your trailer, distribute the weight evenly from side to side and front to back. You may need to redistribute your gear to accomplish this.
• Make sure that your boat is secure, and nothing can fly out of it when you are transporting it to your destination.

Marine first aid kit

Injuries can happen anywhere. And when you're aboard a boat, injury comes with additional complications since help isn't always readily available on the water. Every boat should be equipped with a marine first aid kit that is stocked appropriately for the job and the number of people aboard, according to Discover Boating. Some essentials include:

• Antiseptic wipes
• Sun screen
• First aid cream
• Adhesive bandages
• Gauze pads
• Adhesive tape
• Sting relief wipes
• Cold packs
• Scissors
• Aspirin

Remember to scale the amount of gear you bring to the number of people aboard.

Handheld VHF radio

It might be tempting to depend on your cellphone for emergencies out on the water, but doing so can put you at a disadvantage if you need to contact emergency services. The U.S. Coast Guard recommends having a very high frequency (VHF) handheld radio aboard your vessel. These radios have a much longer range than a cellphone.

Some boats are equipped with mounted VHF radio, and having a portable backup can be a lifesaver if your boat's battery dies.

Safety essentials

For safer boating, you should always have safety equipment on board your vessel, including the list below.

• A life jacket for every passenger.
• One throwable personal floatation device.
• A working horn and a backup, such as a whistle or air horn.
• A fire extinguisher.
• A visual distress signal, such as a flare or an electronic SOS signal light.

Boat insurance

You should have the proper boat insurance coverage before you depart. Not only do some states require coverage, but boat insurance can give you financial peace of mind if you experience damage to your vessel or are involved in an accident.

Out on the water, storms can develop suddenly, putting boaters at serious risk if they're not prepared. Strong winds, heavy rains, rough waves, lightning, and low visibility can work to make it incredibly challenging to handle your boat. Here are some tips to help keep you safe in stormy conditions.

Preparation

Before you leave shore, you should always know the weather forecast. If you see a storm, you should strongly reconsider your boating plan, explains Discover Boating. Consider using a marine weather app that goes deeper into forecasts compared to traditional weather apps and often includes more useful information for boaters.

Recognize the signs

Sometimes, even if you check the weather forecast, a storm can sneak up on you. That's why it's important to understand what the beginnings of a thunderstorm look like so you can spot it on the water. Keep an eye out for:

• Large, puffy clouds that darken
• Fast winds that change direction quickly
• If the air suddenly cools
• Lower atmospheric pressure

If you spot any combination of these signs, it may be a good idea to head for shore. If you think it might clear, you can stay close to land until you are sure it is safe to head out.

Make a safety plan

If you get caught by a storm, you should already know how you will handle keeping yourself and your passengers safe. Some things to note:

• Ensure everyone is wearing a life jacket
• Seat guests on the floor in the center of the boat
• Turn on running lights
• Keep the bilges empty
• Move to shore as slow as you can
• Hit waves at a 45-degree angle
• Deploy your anchor if you need to stop

Even if you're proficient at using your boat, maneuvering your boat around other boats can create issues. Here are some basic principles and tips.

Use safe passing techniques

This is essential to staying safe when you are maneuvering around other boats, says Trident Marine Group. Here are some tips on how to do that:

• Assess the situation. Before making any passing maneuvers, assess the situation around you, such as the weather, traffic density, water depth, and visibility.
• Communicate. Communicating during passing maneuvers is vital to staying safe during passing maneuvers. Sound signals, like a horn, can help indicate your intentions during a pass.
• Follow passing conventions. Generally, passing should be done on the starboard side when possible. This creates predictability when maneuvering around other boats. When you must pass on the port side, communication is all the more important.
• Minimize wake. You can help minimize wake by slowing down when passing other boats. You should do this before you pass to give adequate space for safe passage.
• Maintain distance. You should aim to maintain space between your boat and the boat that you are passing.

Passing another boat's wake

When you're around other boats, you may need to navigate through another boat's wake. Here are some tips on how to do that safely, according to Boating Magazine.

• Stay back. If you run too close behind another boat, you'll be in a larger wake than if you hang back. Even if you want to overtake the other boat, you're better off dropping back so that you're not crossing the wake at its highest point.
• Slow down. Lowering your speed may help lessen the impact of the waves. While you'll need some speed to maintain control, you may need to slow to your boat's planing speed (typically 14 to 18 miles per hour).
• Cross at an angle. Heading into the wake perpendicularly may launch you over it and land you in the deepest part of the trough between waves, and you could roll if you cross it with the boat's beam. Heading into the wake diagonally, with the bow at a 30- to 45-degree angle into the wave, may help minimize impact.
• Don't sit in the bow. Sitting in front of the helm (the location of the steering wheel) may be the worst place to sit when in rough water. For more stability, passengers should consider sitting at or just behind the steering console.
• Let others know. If you're about to cross a large wake, it's a good idea to notify the passengers so that they can brace themselves. If you are passing another boat, use the horn — once to pass starboard side, twice to pass port side.

One of the best ways to deepen your knowledge of boating safety is to take a boating safety course. These courses can cover a range of topics, including the ones we've covered in this article, but can also cover specific rules and safety tips related to the type of boat and the region you intend to boat in. Some states may even have certification programs with educational resources such as Boat-Ed.

When you do your research into what course to attend, ensure that it covers the topics you need information about and that it is offered by a reputable vendor.