BoatU.S. and TowBoatU.S. staff offer tips and advice for being a safer, smarter, cleaner boater this year.
Photo, Stacey Nedrow Wigmore
1.Conduct a safety briefing for all guests prior to any trip. When bringing guests aboard, let them know where to find all pertinent safety equipment, as well as your expectations for them underway. If possible, nominate a “second-in-command,” who can take charge if the captain becomes unexpectedly incapacitated. This person should know how to operate the VHF radio and chartplotter to convey the vessel’s location to responders. — MIKE LONGMAN, BoatU.S. Magazine Contributing Editor
2. Slow down in unfamiliar waters. Water doesn’t give you the stopping distance you expect, especially at cruise speed. Most damage happens with, “I thought I could turn in time.” Slowing down gives you reaction time you won’t have once something appears ahead of you. — CAPT. MICHAEL TUCKER, TowBoatU.S. Lake Texoma
3. Don't text while driving. You know this goes for automobiles, and driving a boat certainly requires just as much undivided attention. — LENNY RUDOW, BoatU.S. Contributing Editor
4. Take a little time with each guest aboard to show them the helm, how to steer and shift gears, find a landmark ashore or a navigation marker to steer toward, read the chartplotter depth and contours, and see your position changing. It’s no-pressure fun, avoids seasickness and fear of the unknown, and gives your guest some confidence. — BERNADETTE BERNON, BoatU.S. Magazine Editorial Director
Photo, Getty Images/Dee
5. Learn how to swim. Wearing a life jacket is well and good, but what better way to increase your boating pleasure and confidence on the water than knowing how to swim should the need arise. Sign the kids up, too! — FRANK LANIER, BoatU.S. Contributing Editor
6. File a float plan. If heading offshore or into open water, make sure somebody ashore knows your intentions. A float plan includes basic information like your vessel identification, origin/destination, crew list, and estimated return time, and should be filed with a trusted individual. — M.L.
7. After setting your anchor, gently back down to confirm it’s holding. It’s much easier to reset early than recover control once conditions worsen. Know your wind direction, depth, and bottom composition so you can set your scope accordingly. — M.T.
8. Never dive off of a boat into murky water. If you can't see what's below you might dive right into something solid. — L.R.
9. Never leave anything unattached on deck – fenders, lines, hats, you name it. Invariably it will blow off, fall in the water, and if it’s a line it could foul your prop. Keep your lines coiled, and the cockpit sole and deck clear. — B.B.
Photo, Bernadette Bernon
10. Carry a basic tool kit and commonly used spare parts. When it comes to an engine breakdown while underway, you’re pretty much relegated to the repair abilities of a Neanderthal without a basic tool kit onboard and at least a few spare parts. We’re not talking anything extravagant here – a socket set, screwdrivers, an assortment of pliers, or any tools specific to your engine (e.g., sparkplug wrench). Commonly carried spare parts include items such as spark plugs, belts, hoses, fuel filters, and the like. — F.L.
11. Bring enough food, water, and warm clothes in case you are out longer than expected, including waiting for a tow. This is especially important in colder climates. — M.L.
12. Always look at the discharge when your bilge pump kicks in. If there’s the slightest bit of sheen, you need to put an oil-absorbent pad into the bilge (or change the one that's in there). And if you see a rainbow, you know something is amiss, like a leaky hydraulic fitting or a dripping gasket, giving you a heads-up that there's a problem before it becomes a disaster. — L.R.
13. Try to avoid entering narrow inlets into the sun, which blinds you to what’s ahead. Also, wear good-quality polarized sunglasses and a brimmed hat to help eliminate glare. — B.B.
14. Observe invasive species requirements. Some lakes have stringent rules to prevent the spread of damaging invasive species. If using these waterways, remove boat plugs when traveling, and practice all bilge/hull sterilization measures required by local municipalities. — M.L.
15. Before leaving the dock, take a minute to assign simple roles – lines, lookout, swimmer checks. Clear expectations reduce confusion and injuries when something unexpected happens, which is often when small problems turn serious. — M.T.