Boat Safety
The people that use their boat for recreation such as hunting or fishing actually have the highest fatality rates of all boat users. And it is especially when people get too confident and too comfortable and do not think that anything can happen to them that it does. Keep boat safety in your mind whenever you are out on the water and make sure that all passengers are also hip to boat safety. Keep a few of the following boat safety tips in mind when you are in the boat.
Boat safety tips for the experienced boater
Many of these things will sound too basic to all of you have been out on the water with your boat more times than you can remember, but you would be doing yourself a favor by getting a little refresher.
- Before you even start the engine of your boat, sniff around for fumes near the engine and in the hatches.
- Dress in layers, depending on the weather, you may have to wear several, but this will allow you to easily shed the right amount of clothing and it is better for your skin to breath. Top it all off with a raincoat so that you are sure to keep nice and dry.
- Check the weather before you go - and don't take any chances. If there is a storm brewing out there, change the date of your excursion - it's not worth it. And always take a radio with you so that you can stay on top of the weather in your area.
- If you are in a small boat make sure that when and if you have to move around in the boat that you try to stay in the center of the boat and the lower the better as otherwise you could throw off the boat's center of balance and everyone will end up in the water.
- Everyone in the boat should be wearing their life jackets. This is especially true for the children on board. Make sure that the children have jackets that fit them properly or they will be useless.
- Do not overload your boat. Know the weight capacity of your boat and do not tempt fate.
Practice boat safety all the time and take the time to teach your children all that you have learned from your years of boating. You can really never be too safe when it comes to water recreation and good boat safety will take you a long way.
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