Essential Navigation and Safety Tips for Yachting and Boating Enthusiasts

Many of us go to lakes, rivers, or the ocean to fish, waterski, cruise, or just relax on a boat, yacht, or other personal watercraft as the weather gets warmer. It makes sense that the waterways are a popular destination given that there are nearly 12 million recreational boats registered in the United States*. However, a few important safety tips should be remembered before you and your friends and family set out.

Many of us go to lakes, rivers, or the ocean to fish, waterski, cruise, or just relax on a boat, yacht, or other personal watercraft as the weather gets warmer. It makes sense that the waterways are a popular destination given that there are nearly 12 million recreational boats registered in the United States*. However, a few important safety tips should be remembered before you and your friends and family set out. Ensure that everyone has a life jacket on.

In approximately 80% of boating fatalities, victims drowned. Among those, 83% did not have a life jacket on. Make sure that everyone on your crew and guests is wearing a life jacket that fits well. They may be able to keep their heads above water, protect them from hypothermia, and help them stay afloat in rough waters thanks to this.

Make sure your life jackets are appropriate for the situation. One Type I, II, III, or V personal floatation device (PFD) and one Type IV throwable device are required to be included on boats larger than 16 feet. Each person aboard a boat with a length of 16 feet or less is required to wear one Type I, II, III, or V PFD. For each person on board, each boat must have a Type I, II, III, or V personal floatation device. A Type IV throwable device is also required for boats larger than 16 feet. The Coast Guard Approval Number and all PFDs should be in good condition.

Type I PFDs are much of the time canceled shore life coats. They are made to flip the majority of people who wear them upside down into the water.

Near-shore buoyancy vests are Type II PFDs. They are designed for calm, inland water or waters where quick rescue is likely.  Similar to Type II, they are good for calm inland water.

The Type IV PFD is made to be thrown to a person in the water and held by them until they are rescued.

PFDs of type V are for specific applications. If used under the conditions that are listed on the label, they can be used in place of other PFDs. They could be board sailing vests, work vests, inflatable vests, deck suits, or hybrid PFDs Never go boating while drinking alcohol.

Liquor use is a main supporter of lethal drifting mishaps, causing roughly 15% of the passings every year. Leave the alcohol on dry land to maintain your sharpness while you are out on the water. Take a course on boating safety. Only 13% of boating fatalities occurred on vessels operated by individuals who held a nationally recognized certificate of boating safety education. If you complete a safety course, you might even be eligible for a discount on your insurance. For more information, go to uscgboating.org or your local Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron chapter. Put your phone down.  Talking, texting, and other forms of phone use while boating is a growing problem on the water, just like distracted driving on our highways. Avoid contributing to this issue. Concentrate on the water in front of and around you.

Drive safely and abide by all boating safety and navigational regulations. Boating accidents are primarily caused by improper lookout and excessive speed. Make sure you know and strictly adhere to the waterway’s local regulations. Pay attention to visibility, the amount of traffic, and the distance from navigational hazards like rocks, shoals, or floating objects. Be ready for a change by checking the weather forecast.

On the water, even a peaceful day can quickly turn ugly. Weather conditions were blamed for 41 deaths in 2016. While boating, keep an eye on the weather and stay up to date on the forecast.

Do something before a storm comes.

Tempest and storm figures and alerts are given by the Public Typhoon Place. Newspapers, commercial radio and television stations, and VHF marine radios provide boaters with information. Before a storm strikes, boaters must be aware of the various types of advisories and take action. Warnings range from hurricane warnings with winds of 74 miles per hour (64 knots) or higher to small craft advisories with winds of 18 knots or less.

Obtain a free Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) number, connect a VHF radio with Digital Selective Calling (DSC), and register for a MMSI number.These preparations can assist in eliminating the need for a search and rescue operation in coastal and inshore waters. When the emergency button is pressed, the VHF radio can transmit digital information and immediately send the Coast Guard a digital distress alert that includes your precise location. The MMSI number that automatically identifies your vessel is included in the alert.

Make use of a CO detector. Carbon monoxide, a poisonous gas that can kill in minutes or make you sick in a matter of seconds, is released by all internal combustion engines. Keep in mind that CO cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, so be aware of the symptoms (similar to seasickness or alcoholism).