Boating Safety 101

The warm months are here, so you’re undoubtedly ready to take your boat out on the water as soon as you can make it happen. Whether you’re heading out in your aluminum fishing boat to the lake or taking your pontoon out for a fun cruise on the river, you’re guaranteed to have a blast and make some excellent marine memories. However, you should take a few safety tips into consideration and prepare yourself and your vessel before you hit the water, and that’s where we come in with this quick and easy guide to boating safety. If you discover your boat could use some professional service or parts, schedule an appointment with the fine mechanics at Mark's Leisure Time Marine and we’ll get you fixed up and ready to go! For your convenience, we have two dealership locations, in Conesus and Canandaigua, New York.

Plan Ahead

One of the easiest safety precautions you can take is checking the weather forecast for the day you intend to set sail or fire up your outboard. Weather conditions are temperamental and can always change, but if you have at least some idea of what to expect, you’ll be better equipped to deal with changes. If the forecast looks grim, maybe reschedule your adventure for another weekend. While cloudy skies or a little rain won’t interfere with your plans too much, you should avoid going out on the water during severe thunderstorms and high wind conditions. If you do find yourself out on the water with storm clouds brewing, make sure you know how to get back to shore quickly and safely as soon as you can.

You should also take the step of making a checklist of safety practices and the gear you need to bring. Educate someone in your party on how your boat operates so that they can take over as assistant skipper if you should become suddenly unable to operate your boat. They should learn how to pilot the boat and navigate back to shore. Also, everyone going on your boat should know how to swim, even if their skills are rudimentary. If you have to jump ship or if someone goes overboard, they need to be able to keep themselves afloat until help arrives or you can pull them in.

Equip Yourself & Your Boat

Now that you have your lists ready, you can start to load your boat up with the gear you need. Everyone should have a life jacket available to them, although you might not wear these on larger vessels at all times. The boat needs its own throwable life ring for people who go overboard. You should have flags and signals to alert others to the fact that you need help or that you have swimmers in the water. Keep your cell phone handy and charged up in a waterproof storage space, along with a radio to call in case of emergencies. Don’t forget to appoint your boat with a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit, too.

Follow Best Practices On The Water

Once you’re on the water, it’s important to keep yourself, your passengers and other water users safe by following some good safety practices. Most importantly, don’t drink alcohol or use recreational drugs before operating your boat. You need to stay sober to maintain your focus and steer around obstacles. If you’re on a small craft, everyone should be wearing their life jackets at all times. Give other boats and watercraft space, passing to the right. Allow swimmers in the water to have plenty of space by giving them a wide berth, along with any debris you spot. Know your own limits and don’t tackle any fancy maneuvers or waterways you don’t think you can handle.

If you’re looking into purchasing another boat to add to your fleet, come down to one of our showrooms to see the great new and used boats we have in stock in many different styles. We can also address any maintenance concerns you may have. Mark’s Leisure Time Marine serves the whole of New York state, including the cities of Rochester and Syracuse. We have two locations, one in Conesus and one in Canandaigua.