Boating Safety Tips
If you like to get out in the cold water period to scout for better structure, you are taking serious risks. Have you ever fallen through the ice? If you have you've felt the greatest risk of cold water...hypothermia. In about 10 minutes or less you will be unable to tread water or get back in the boat if you fell out. Not good! If you takes kids and dogs fishing, boating safety tips become more critical. Unexpected events like a hook in the face, kids falling in (or knocking you in), sunburns, dehydration and on and on. Planning ahead will make the day go smoother. So do we quit fishing because of the risks? NO WAY! If you follow some simple boating safety tips, each trip will be fun and enjoyable for everyone that goes with you. A great bass fishing trip gets you out there the next time. Like the skills needed to catch bass, safety starts with knowledge. BOATING SAFETY TIPS-Wear Your Life Vest West Marine - The worlds largest boating supply company! A FEW BOATING SAFETY TIPS FROM THE COAST GUARD Safety a Big Issue for Small BoatsGive your Boat a Quick Inspection Before Heading Out on the Water It doesn’t require a 40 ft. cabin cruiser to enjoy the nation’s many lakes, rivers, and coastalwaterways, but those operating small boats to engage in water-related activities do need to beaware of their boat’s limitations and behave accordingly. Statistically, more than 80 percent of all boating fatalities occur in boats less than 26 feet inlength, often the result of capsizing or falls overboard. In many cases, a contributing factor is oneor a combination of the Coast Guard’s Big 4: excessive speed, reckless operation, operatorinattention/inexperience, and boating under the influence. But other factors point to hazards particular to smaller craft. In small, open-constructed boats, thewave-size-to-boat ratio is much less than on a larger boat, and a small boat will fill with watermore quickly if washed over by a large wave, or even a small one. Transoms and helm stationareas are wide open and the boats have smaller and fewer bilge pumps, or none at all. Also,decks are not watertight, and water can enter and damage the control cables, leaving the boatstranded. Even empty, such boats have little to no freeboard – the distance between the rail or top edge ofthe boat and the waterline – and even less when fully loaded with occupants, food, and gear. It’seasy to overload these vessels unintentionally, and an overloaded boat is more likely to capsize,even in relatively calm waters.
To make capsizing even less likely, be sure your load is distributed evenly to keep the boatbalanced. Standing for any reason in small boats, even changing seating positions, can raise thecenter of gravity and make the boat less stable. The same is true for sitting on the gunwales orseat backs, or on a pedestal seat while underway. A raised center of gravity means that a wave,wake, or sudden turn can result in a person falling overboard. For safety’s sake, complete a pre-departure checklist prior to launch to make certain your boat isin good working order and has all the necessary safety equipment on board. And, big boat orsmall, be sure to check the weather report and waterway conditions, bearing in mind thatconditions considered safe for a 40-foot boat might be unsafe for one half that size. Small boats are a lot of fun and important to many water-related activities. Take a moment to doa 15-minute inspection before launch, watch your load, and mind the Big 4. Make sure that allof your small boat journeys are safe ones. The U.S. Coast Guard reminds all boaters to “Boat Responsibly!” For more tips on boating safety, visitwww.USCGboating.org BOATING SAFETY TIPS-Complete this Pre-Departure Checklist To make sure your small boat is “seaworthy” and that all essentials are on board, set aside 15minutes for a quick inspection before launch. • Check the operating condition of your boat: motor, steering, battery, hoses, clamps, bilge pumps, wiring, fuel tanks, lines, float switches, and lights. • Make sure you have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket of correct size and type foryou and every passenger (and, on the water, make sure they are worn, not just stowed). • If your boat is greater than 16-feet in length, be sure you also have a Coast Guardapprovedthrowable flotation device – i.e. buoyant cushion, ring buoy, or horseshoe buoy(kayaks and canoes are exempted from this requirement). • Check for other safety equipment appropriate to the size of your boat and the area whereit will be operating; for example, flashlight, tool kit, first-aid kit and sunscreen, paddles,oars, binoculars, anchor and anchor line, fire extinguisher, spare battery, visual distresssignals, charts of the local area, and a VHF-FM marine radio. • Check the capacity plate (if affixed to the hull) or calculate the maximum load to makesure you don’t overload the boat with passengers and gear.
BOATING SAFETY TIPS-FIRE ON THE WATER One of the most dangerous situations is having a fire in your boat. Gasoline, lead-acid batteries and fire do not mix! If you have a fire, you have only seconds to contain it with your fire extinguisher. Make sure it is charged and accessible BEFORE you go fishing. If you can't put it out, get out! Jump out of the boat with your life jackets on, and swim quickly away. Swim upwind so the boat and fumes drift away from you. Obviously head to shore as soon as you are a safe distance from the fire. BOATING SAFETY TIPS-FIRE PREVENTION Like any good fishing trip, fire prevention also starts before you leave home. Check over gas lines and tanks. Make sure all connections and lines are tight and in good condition. If you spill gas, clean it up immediately. Make sure no electrical wires or devices are rubbing or bare. A small spark can ignite trapped fumes or gas very easily. If you have ventilation fans, make sure they work because the fumes are the most explosive. Clutter and trash can start a fire and prevent you from putting it out quickly. Stow your gear so you can move about without tripping. This is good practice anyway. Paper or plastic that gets blown on to hot engine parts can smolder and catch fire as well. You may not even smell anything before the fire starts if the wind is right.
BOATING SAFETY TIPS-CHOOSING THE RIGHT EXTINGUISHER On a boat you have several fire hazards. Fuel, wood, plastics and electrical items need special attention. Your best extinguisher is the ABC model. Get the largest one that you can secure in the boat because it's better to have too much than not enough! Boating safety tips may not be exciting as landing a big bass, but they will allow you to come back another day!
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