You need to be careful when boating, or you may encounter one of the many common causes of Florida boating accidents. However, you need to not only stay safe while the boat is going but also prepare beforehand to make your journey as safe as possible.
While there are a lot of things to do, just a few are listed below, alongside explanations as to how important they are. Don’t ignore any of this, or you’ll end up either hurting yourself or someone else.
Prepare Your Supplies
There are some items and tools that should be on every boat. Most of the time, these are self-explanatory and obvious: a first aid kit, extra life jackets, a fire extinguisher, etc. Some are less obvious, though.
For example, make sure your boat keys are on a floating keychain so they don’t sink to the bottom if they fall overboard. You should also have signaling devices like flares available so you can call for help if something goes wrong. You also need to keep your boat’s paperwork onboard somewhere, preferably in a waterproof bag or pouch.
Once you have all of your safety gear, then you can grab all of the fun stuff. Fishing rods, bait, coolers, water skis, towels, and more can all fall into this category, though things like towels should probably be brought along even if no one plans to go in the water. If nothing else, they can act as cushioning.
Inspect Your Boat
Before you start loading the boat up, perform an inspection. You’re looking for any signs that something is wrong, from obvious damage and leaks to rust and corrosion. If the hull appears to be fine, then step inside and look around slowly. Check the wiring for any sign of an issue. Exposed wires and electrical tape are a sign to take your boat to a mechanic.
If you open the hatch and see water or smell gas, then do the same thing because that means there’s a leak somewhere, and that’s obviously not good. Check the oil and gas tanks, too. If the oil comes out milky or looks too dark, you’ve got a problem.
Make sure the gas tanks aren’t leaking and that they are filled before your journey. If you see an unusual issue, a mechanic can take a look, identify the cause, and fix it. If everything’s good, then you can start preparing for your journey.
Wear Your Life Jacket
Everyone on your boat needs to wear a life jacket at all times, especially anyone who’s older, younger, or isn’t good at swimming. They keep you floating should you fall in, which gives you time to react and prevents panicking.
Floating provides many benefits, like allowing you to rest when you get tired, which can happen if you fall far from shore or the boat goes a good distance away from you after you fall. It also gives you more time to sit and wait as help arrives, a luxury someone without a life jacket simply would not have.
It’s kind of like a bicycle helmet; even if you dislike how they look, you need to wear one for your safety. Luckily, life jackets come in all sorts of colors, patterns, and designs, so there’s likely at least one that catches your eye and makes the experience more bearable.
Watch the Weather
Pay attention to the weather forecast as you plan your trip. Weather affects the water by increasing the size and strength of waves. Strong winds are well-known for doing this. Boating in fog is extremely dangerous and should be avoided, as should thunderstorm boating. With the latter, it’s not the rain that’s the problem, but the lighting.
Paying attention to the marine forecast will allow you to know what to expect as they provide not just the weather but also how rough the seas are expected to be and at what times, allowing you to plan around rough conditions with ease.
Just remember that these forecasts are predictions and aren’t always one hundred percent accurate. However, if bad weather is predicted, avoid the water. If it looks mild or pleasant, then continue watching as you plan, just in case something crops up.
Don’t Overload it
Every boat has something on it called a capacity plate. It will tell you the limits the boat has; don’t ignore these limits. If overloaded, the boat will be difficult to control, may begin to sink, stuff may fall out, and more.
Overall, it’s bad for you, your passengers, and the boat. To avoid these negative consequences, follow the boat’s limits. Weigh all of your gear before loading and then weigh all of your passengers.
If the gear exceeds the weight limit or there are too many people, you’ll have to make the necessary adjustments until this is no longer the case. Also, distribute the weight evenly across your boat, or it may capsize and test everyone’s life jackets and ability to swim.
Know How to Swim
You don’t need to be a great swimmer to be on a boat, but being able to at least stay afloat and get yourself to the nearest landmass or vessel is important for anyone on a boat. Even if you follow all of the rules and pay attention, accidents can happen.
Maybe someone else doesn’t follow the rules and creates a massive wave, or people are horsing around on deck. It’s easy to fall into the water by accident. This is why you should always wear your lifejacket, but being able to swim to some extent will not only help you keep your head above water but will also prevent you from panicking should you fall in.
Knowing how to swim can also be helpful if someone else falls in and you have to rescue them. At the bare minimum, make sure all of your passengers can relax and let themselves float until someone can help them. If a passenger is too young or old to do this, then make sure they’re always accompanied by at least one able-bodied adult.