1. WEAR A LIFEJACKET
Whatever activity you have planned on the water, remember to always wear a life jacket
every time you’re on the water. Accidents on the water can happen far too quickly to reach and
put on a stowed lifejacket.
Make sure your life jacket is US Coast Guard approved, suitable for your boating activity
and fits properly. A lifejacket that is too big or too small can cause different situational problems.
2. KNOW STATE NAUTICAL LAWS
Rules and laws may differ from state to state, and violations may result in tickets, fines, or jail time.
Click on the links below for boating information in your state.
3. TAKE THE BOATING SAFETY COURSE
(National Association of Boating Law Administrators) approved boating safety course. Many courses are online, and will save you money on your boat insurance.
Click on the links below for nautical education in your state.
4. MAKE SURE YOUR BOAT IS PREPARED
Every ship security check is done 100% free of charge.
5. KNOW THE CAPACITY OF YOUR BOAT
If you have too much on your boat, the boat can become unstable and capsize.
6. CHECK THE WEATHER, INCLUDING WATER TEMPERATURE
Know the latest marine weather forecast before you go out and check regularly for changing conditions.
Check out your local forecast report below:
7. DRESS PROPERLY
Always dress for the weather, wear layers if the weather is cooler and bring an extra set of clothes in case you get wet.
8. SUBMIT A FLOAT PLAN
9. FOLLOW NAVIGATION RULES
Know the “rules of the road” such as operator responsibility, maintaining proper supervision, safe speed, crossings, head-on encounters and overtaking situations. Know what’s going on around you at all times and always travel at environmentally safe speeds.
10. DON’T DRINK AND BOAT
11. CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING
Boat gasoline engines, including onboard generators, produce carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless gas that can poison or kill anyone who breathes too much of it. Be sure to install and maintain a working CO detector, never block exhaust outlets, and always moor, dock or anchor at least 20 feet from the nearest boat that uses a generator or a motor.
12. KEEP IN TOUCH
Communication devices may be the most important emergency equipment on board a ship, especially in an emergency. Make sure you have at least two communication devices that work when wet, such as satellite phones, emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs), VHF radios, and personal locator beacons ( PLB). And know how to use it.
