Top 5 Boating Safety Tips

You remember what you learned in elementary school: safety is as simple as ABC (Always Be Careful). When it comes to boating, in order to have a fun time, you must first practice safety. Here are our top five boating safety tips to get you out on the water safely:

Make sure you have enough safety gear on board.
It’s important to have the essentials within reach in case of an emergency. You should always have working navigation lights, a bucket, first-aid kit, whistle, ropes, flares, a fire extinguisher as well as US Coast guard approved life jacket and throwable device. All of these items are must-haves in the case of an accident or other emergencies.

Check the weather.
This should go without saying, but we’ve all been busy and desperate to get out on the water. However, Lowcountry storms are infamous for rolling in quickly and can ruin your relaxing fishing day fast if you’re not careful. If you do end up in bad weather, make sure you have a plan to get help and keep dry.

Don’t overload the boat.
So your friend showed up with their friends and their friends’ friends. Too bad! It’s important to follow your boat’s capacity restriction or you can end up with an unbalanced boat and that could lead to a number of problems. Cancel boat day and head to the marina bar instead.

Follow proper procedures.
First things first: take a boat safety course (we can help you find one in the area or online). The U.S. Coast Guard estimates that 70% of boating accidents are due to operator error. Don’t be a statistic! Follow proper docking and anchoring procedures to be safe and cautious.

Most of all, use common sense. If you have any questions or need gear or a class recommendation, give us a call at (843) 556-2550.