Some Words Regarding Safety Measures When Boating.
Boating safety is not rocket science, and if you exercise common sense and do some planning ahead of your boating excursion, you should be able to have safe boating experience. Whilst this may appear to be a simplistic comment to make there are many boaters, irrespective of age and experience, that forget this and focus too much on the fun that they are going to have. Without trying to undermine the main purpose of being on the water, which is to have fun you, should always take into account the level of risk involved and plan accordingly.
Voyage Planning.
All boating instructors and guidance books advocate the simplest tip which is to know the destination, know your crew and to know your time of return before you take to the water. Another very important boating safety tip is ensuring that your boat is absolutely seaworthy, even if you are simply planning to take the boat for a ‘spin’. Commence by checking the level of your load in terms of weight and stack then run all the checks on your engine and last, but not least, make sure you have the minimum suggested levels of safety equipment onboard. There are some additionally safety processes you should follow such as filling and loading an extra fuel can on board in case of emergencies and carrying a basic tool kit onboard. Some other essentials are a PDF (Personal Floatation Device) and make sure that there are enough to go around! You will also require a fire extinguisher (for obvious reasons) and bilge pump.
If Bad Weather Rears It's Ugly Head.
Boating in a safe environment also means knowing what to do when the ugly weather raises it's head. If you are confronted by a thunderhead storm you need to know that you should not ride it out but rather turn the vessel at a 90 degree angle from it. Power the boat up so that it is able to ride the higher waves that are coming and batten down all the loose equipment that is onboard, now point the bow at the storm. These tips are basic and of sound and simple advice and by following them you can avert any potential disasters and continue to experience all the joys that boating has to bring you.
Please note that the tips above are of a basic nature only, you will need to consider that sailing in more dangerous weather and ocean systems will require more knowledge and experience in the area of ocean safety.