Safe Boating Checklist

There’s nothing like a day on the water. Whether it’s fishing, paddling, sailing, skiing, boarding or just relaxing everyone can have a great time, provided that some basic safe boating practices are in place.

Too often, what starts out as a fun adventure turns into a nightmarish experience or worse, a tragedy. In many cases some basic precautions could have averted theses situations.

This boating safety checklist will  get you on the water, sufficiently prepared to make the most of what is never enough boating time.

Boating Safety Checklist:

Things To Do Before You Leave:

• Check local weather conditions and forecasts.

• Create and follow a float plan… and leave a copy on shore with a friend or family member.
• Be sure that your gas tank is full.
• 

Things you should have on-board:

• P.F.D.’s– Personal Flotation Devices (1 for each person)
• Throwable Flotation Device with rope.
• Fire Extinguisher
• Small Bucket for Bailing
• Oar or paddle
• Safety Flares
• Boat and Trailer Registration
• Boating Safety First Aid Kit
• Anchor with 200 ft of line
• Mooring Lines
• Flashlight
• Tool Kit
• Drain Plug (if required)
• Rain Gear
• Sun Glasses
• Sun Screen
• Portable potty (or small pail)
• Towels and Sponge (for spills)

• Binoculars. Learn more about Marine Binoculars here.

 

      . Helpful Articles:

• Cold Water Survival
• Boating Safety Checklist
• Boating After Dark? Follow These Boating Safety Tips
• Kayaking Safety

• U.S.C.G. Boating Safety Resource Center
• National Safe Boating Council Solar Dock Lights Kayaking Safely Boating Safety… Five Boating Safety Tips

 

Safety tips for night boating from the U.S. Coast Guard

Do you enjoy sunset cruises or early morning fishing trips? Boating in the dark raises important visibility issues that boaters need to consider before leaving the dock. Things look very different at night and it’s easy to become lost or disoriented, plus the chance of an accident greatly increases after the sun goes down. The following boating safety tips are offered by the U.S. Coast Guard:

Be Aware of the Weather

Weather awareness is critical.  Check the forecast before heading out, either from local media or your marine VHF-FM radio weather channel.  Statewide weather forecasts and warnings are available from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at www.noaa.gov, which also lists local National Weather Service contacts.  Besides checking for any incoming storms, consider the moon phases and amount of cloud cover, both of these can affect your visibility and how well other boaters can see you in the dark. Practice risk assessment.  Is it a high-traffic holiday weekend?  Is there a full moon?

Develop and Follow a Float Plan

Have a clear idea of where you want to go and plot a course before leaving the dock.  Study the route for water depth, landmarks, navigation aids and any hazards, then mark your progress on a chart as you go.  Practicing these basic rules of navigation will lessen the risk of becoming disoriented, lost, or running aground.  File your float plan with a relative or friend who can then notify the appropriate authorities if you fail to return as scheduled.

Use Navigational Aids

In addition to having up-to-date charts aboard, use your radar and GPS,  but don’t rely on GPS alone.  Reduced visibility raises the risk of running into a fixed object or another vessel.  A GPS can’t tell you what obstructions are below the surface of the water or between you and your destination.

Proper Lighting

Make sure that your navigation lights are “energized and burning brightly,” as specified by the Navigation Rules.  If you’ve completed a U.S. Power Squadron or Coast Guard boating course, you know that each boat has a recommended lighting placement that creates a pattern for other boaters to gauge the size of your boat. Illustrations of appropriate lighting for your vessel can be found online in A Boater’s Guide to Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats and Safety Tips (pages 27-31) The brochure can be downloaded for free at Free Brochure of Federal Boating Regulations.

Make sure you have extra light bulbs and fuses aboard.

Other than your navigation lights, eliminate all white lights on board because they can affect your night vision and reduce your ability to see other vessels and objects in or on the water.  Consider replacing them with red lights, which will not affect your night vision.  Set your instrument panel dimmer switch to the lowest readable setting.

Important Details

Perform a marine VHF-FM radio check with a marina, another boat, or the towing companies to ensure that it’s working properly and, as with every boating trip, be sure you have a full fuel tank before casting off.  You never want to run out of fuel, but especially not in the dark.

Pay Attention!

Keep the distractions down. Turn down the music and TV and ask your passengers to keep conversation at lower levels while underway to improve your alertness and awareness of hazards and approaching vessels.

The U.S. Coast Guard reminds all boaters to “Boat Responsibly!” For more tips on boating safety, visit www.uscgboating.org.

 

Helpful Articles:

[postlist tags=”safety” requesttype=”0″]

U.S.C.G. Boating Safety Resource Center

National Safe Boating Council Solar Dock Lights Kayaking Safely Boating Safety… Five Boating Safety Tips

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