Boat Safety Equipment To Always Keep Onboard

There's nothing like a day on the lake with your boat. It only takes one experience of the boating lifestyle, and you are hooked. But from a first-time boater to a seasoned pro, there's one aspect of boating that can never receive enough attention - safety. There are a few things you should always keep on board your boat to make sure you get the most out of your boat.

Life Jackets

A life jacket is probably the most crucial piece of boating safety equipment, but one that people neglect the most. When people are out on a boat, they want to enjoy the sun and spray - so many go without a life jacket. When most people think of a life jacket, the big, bulky orange block comes to mind. Today's life jackets are a lot more comfortable than most people would think, though. They're available in slim, flexible styles that don't really inhibit movement. Even if you have them stowed somewhere in the boat, accidents often happen at a very quick speed, and there's not time to react and reached a stowed vest. So keeping your vest on is key. A report from the United States Coast Guard says that simply having a life jacket would have saved over 80 % of boating deaths.

A First Aid Kit

Minor accidents can and almost certainly will happen on your boat - as with any other recreational activity. And when they do, you want to be prepared. You may be some distance away from medical help, so keeping a first aid kit onboard can make sure everyone stays safe. Also, a minor accident could become more serious if you don't have proper care onboard. Keeping a kit handy can make sure you're able to have a fun and safe day on the water.

Drinking Water

Sure, there's plenty of water around. But can you use it? Keeping a supply of drinking water onboard can keep everyone safe in the event you have mechanical trouble a long way from shore. Since most boating is occurs during warm and sunny weather, it's best just to have water around to keep everyone cool. People can get dehydrated a lot more quickly than they think while boating. You have direct sunshine, a possible breeze and fun activities that uses energy. Keeping drinking water onboard ensures everyone's safety and health.

What safety equipment do you alway keep onboard?

Tips For Navigating A Boat At Night

Taking your boat out after dark can be romantic, relaxing and picturesque. Those pre-dawn hours can also be when some of the best fishing takes place. However, boat navigation at night presents some additional risks not encountered during the daytime. To keep safe on the water at night, be sure to follow these five boating safety tips:

1. Check your navigation lights before you leave. Your boat's green and red navigation lights help other watercraft be able to place you and your course at night on the water. They are required by Coast Guard regulations to be visible at least a mile away. Make sure your lights are burning brightly and aren't obstructed by fishing gear and other equipment before  you leave the dock.

2. Look, listen and scan. Good navigation--at night and during the day--requires you to be alert and ever vigilant to the condition of the water, the other craft around you, navigational markers and the changing weather conditions. It's also wise to listen for the sounds of other craft. Some, smaller boats are not required to have navigation lights. Others may have lights that have malfunctioned.

3. Trust your instruments. It's easy to get disoriented out on the water at night. Rely on your instrument readings. Your eyes can play trick on you, especially in the darkness, whereas, your instruments are rarely, if ever, wrong. If your boat is equipped with a GPS device, it's a good idea to rely on its output. If this data conflicts with your visual indications, stop your boat until you can reconcile the two.

4. Avoid using your spotlight. Spotlights are designed for boat captains to see objects far in the distance. Used constantly, they can blind other boaters and can be very dangerous. Plus, the reflection from the water caused by the spotlight can hamper your own sense of space and distance. Use your spotlight sparingly, if at all.

5. Don't rush. One of the most important safety tips for navigating a boat at night is to slow it down. Although it's tempting to want to get home as soon as possible, reduced visibility at night makes it a good idea to take it down a notch.

This season when you go out on the water at night, be sure to practice good boating safety, not only for you and your passengers, but for the others out on the water.

Time to Check Your Propeller: Here's What to Look For

Recreational boat owners take vast pleasure from their boats: whether out for a relaxing day of fishing or enjoying a rousing weekend of waterskiing with friends and family. But just as with any mechanical item, adequate boat maintenance is required to keep things running smoothly.

Many owners opt to store their leisure craft, utilizing boat winterization services or simply by storing their boat in the off-season. This presents an ideal time to take stock in the boat's condition and perform any needed repairs or maintenance.

Checking the condition of the boat propeller is just one aspect of boat maintenance. In particular, owners should look at the overall condition of the propeller. In addition to looking for obvious signs of prop damage, such as dents, signs of rusting, or metal stress on the blades, care should also be given to checking that the blades are not bent or misshapen.

For inboard motors, it is important to check that the prop shaft is centered within the bearings. If the boat was showing signs of vibration while running, having the shaft checked to be sure it's true is important. An untrue shaft can result in further damage to the couplers, bearings, or seals.

Look for marine growth on the propeller as well, and remove. Also check to be sure the propeller shaft has adequate grease or the recommended lubricant. Consider replacing the hub on the propeller for sterndrive and outboard motors if it shows signs of wear or has been damaged.

Additionally, look for fishing line which may have wrapped around the propeller shaft. If found, carefully inspect or replace the prop shaft seals. This fishing line can slice into these seals causing damage.

Keeping your boat in top condition is essential for boat owners. Minor maintenance tasks, such as checking your propeller regularly, can go far in keeping your vessel in the water and ready for relaxing, carefree boating.