Every year tragedies occur on the open seas, rivers and lakes. People are injured or worse because they did not remember to keep boat safety in mind. The irony is that these problems could have been avoided by taking a few simple measures before embarking out on their boat. With this in mind, let's explore some proactive measures that boaters, whether they are on a canoe or a yacht, can take to avoid misfortune while out on the water.
One of the biggest mistakes boaters make is misjudging weather conditions. Often they look out and see calm water and become complacent with respect to safety. Unfortunately on occasion, and without any forewarning, the weather can take a brutal turn for the worse, as you might imagine this can lead to catastrophic consequences.
It is important to remember that the United States Coast Guard prescribes that certain equipment be inventoried on every boat. The number of devices mandated is determined by the size of the boat and how it is powered. States may also have requirements that go above and beyond those of the USCG.
As mentioned earlier, weather can be a dangerous impediment to a safe trip out on the water. It is vital to get as strong a sense of conditions as you can. Storms can become manifest without a moment's notice. This is true regardless of your geographic starting point. Oceans and lakes are littered with stories of sudden storms overturning vessels and causing tragic harm.
A good starting point, not to mention mandatory, for safety is to make sure that there are always on hand enough personal flotation devices (PFD) for everybody on board the vessel. These are more commonly known as life jackets or life preservers. They serve to assist the user, whether conscious or unconscious to stay afloat in the water maintaining their heads above the water.
You will also need to keep on hand a wide variety of safety devices. Be sure to have flotation devices that can be tossed into the water. Sound making equipment, such as horns or whistles, can be used to communicate distress. Visual distress signals are also vital. Having flares onboard can attract the attention of rescuers that sound signals might not have otherwise reached. Do not forget to equip your boat with fire extinguishers.
More than a few boating accidents have nothing to do with the weather. In fact, they are completely avoidable. I am referring to those boaters who take to the seaways under the influence, or those who steadily become inebriated during the course of their trip. Boating while drunk or under the influence of drugs is a sure recipe for disaster. Not only are you putting yourself and others in harm's way, but you could also be arrested.
Any discussion of boat safety is not meant to throw a damper on the enjoyment of boating. Rather, it is meant to ensure that should a problem occur on the water, you will be able to effectively deal with the issue at hand. After all, the point of having a boat is to get out on those waters as often as you can.
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