Basic Boating Safety Tips

Now that the summer is upon us, many marine enthusiasts have taken their boats out of the garage, shed or slip and are getting out on the water as often as they can. You can’t beat feeling the spray on your face while you cruise through rippling waves, whether you’re towing watersports users or just out for a joyride with family and friends. However, to protect you and your passengers, you should be following basic safety procedures. Your local Mesa marine dealer is Surfride Marine, and we’ve provided this list of boating safety tips to help you have a great time on the water this summer!

Be Prepared

Thinking ahead will save you so much trouble when you’re on the water because you will be capable of dealing with any problems or emergencies that might develop. Performing a thorough inspection of your boat can prevent you from leaving the dock with a potentially serious problem that could strand you in the middle of the lake. Look at the hull to see if any damage was missed on your last inspection. Check the engine and the lights to make sure they function and that the fuel tank is full. If you find anything wrong that you can’t address, get your bike to a service department pronto before your next trip. The mechanics at Surfride Marine can help you out, give us a call now to schedule an appointment!

Let someone on shore know where you’re going before you leave and tell them when you plan to be back so that they know where to send rescue crews if you don’t return. Appoint an assistant skipper on your boat who is versed in how to operate the boat should you become unable to do so. Make sure all your passengers know the rules of the boat and where safety equipment is stored. Another good step is to check the weather forecast before your planned trip and make sure that no storms are rolling in.

Carry Safety Gear

Your boat should be equipped with important safety gear. Every passenger should have access to a life jacket, even if they don’t wear it all the time. On small boats, you should definitely wear your life jacket at all times to keep yourself safe if you fall overboard. You should have a throwable life ring as well for any people who fall overboard. Every passenger should also be able to swim and float before they get on board.

In your boat’s storage compartments, carry a first aid kit with bandages and medications, signals or flares, a flashlight, an emergency radio and your phone for backup, with its charger. Every boat should also have a fire extinguisher on board. These items will be very useful if you have an emergency.

Use Common Sense

While boating, you should stay sober. Using drugs or alcohol will impair your focus and make you more likely to hit something. Plus, if you fall in the water, your ability to swim will be hampered by intoxication.

Make sure that you are using proper etiquette when around other crafts and water users. Pass to the right and signal your approach where you can. Give watersports users and swimmers plenty of space and don’t get so close to them that you splash them. Stay away from debris and shallow areas so you don’t run your boat aground or damage your hull. If you do have an emergency, stop your engine and signal for help, then wait for it to arrive.

When you’re ready to check out some great boats for sale, visit our showroom to see our wide selection of new and used boats in many styles by top brands. If your current boat needs maintenance or parts, call up our service department to schedule an appointment with our professional mechanics. Surfride Marine serves the greater Phoenix metropolitan area with our dealership location in Mesa, Arizona.