Boating is one of the most popular outdoor recreational activities out there. It is an on-demand escape from everyday life. You tend to see the soothing colors of blue water, and your brain gets to reset.

While you can do many fun activities on a boat such as fishing, water skiing, wakeboarding, and riding tow toys, you need to take safety precautions to prevent accidents and injuries to you and your family members. Read on to discover five safety tips to help you boat responsibly and keep your friends and family safe while on the water.

1. Always Wear a Life Jacket

You need to put on a life jacket when on water or near the water. Notably, even the best swimmers need life jackets. There are many life jackets, and the inflatable and inherently buoyant types of life jackets are the most common.

The buoyant kinds come in wearable and throwable fashions and are suitable for swimmers and non-swimmers. On the other hand, the inflatable is only available in wearable, adult sizes, and the non-swimmers should not wear this. You need to choose the right type of life jacket to put on.

2. Avoid Drinking Alcohol and Be Aware of Carbon Monoxide

When you drink alcohol, your decision-making skills and the body’s ability to react deteriorates. For instance, you could struggle to keep track of two or more vessels operating in your area. You need to avoid drinking alcohol while boating for the safety of everyone on board and to avoid finding yourself on the wrong side of the law.

Additionally, you need to maintain fresh air circulation throughout the boat and even educate your members on carbon monoxide poisoning. You could also install carbon monoxide on your boat.

3. Check the Weather Before Boating

Weather and water conditions are important to understand in order to boat safely. Most coastal water forecasts provide information on the weather conditions. Avoid boating when there are dangerous weather conditions.

For instance, avoid strong water currents as they make boat navigation difficult. You need to always pay attention to the short-term and long-term local weather forecast as reported by the radio or the internet before any boating trip.

4. Get a Vessel Safety Check

A vessel safety check is an examination of the boat to ensure it is in suitable safety condition. The examiner, for instance, performs safety checks on the anchor lights, running lights, navigation lights, and even checks for the presence of fire extinguishers and life jackets. If your vessel meets compliance, you will receive a decal showing that you passed the vessel safety inspection.

5. Take a Boating Safety Course

Boating safety education keeps the crew safe by learning about responsible boat operation, etiquette, and the rules of the waterway. You become a better and safer boater by taking the boating safety course. Nowadays, you can learn boating skills online or choose to take a physical class. Notably, when you complete the final exam of the course, you are eligible for your state boating card.

Schedule for Professional Boating Services Today

You need to take proper safety measures at all times while boating. It would be best if you also educated your crew on boating safety to decrease the risk of injury due to boating accidents. Always stay safe by being prepared and using the appropriate equipment.

If you have any boating-related questions or would like more information about boats, you need to seek the services of Lifestyle Marine. Contact us today for professional boating services. We are happy to help you with all of your boating needs in Southern Florida.