We all know that weather can change in the blink of an eye. You started out lazily cruising along the water with the sun sparkling off the water, only to have a massive black cloud looming across the sky forcing the waves in the distance to become increasingly choppy. Not a good thing.
Let's make a check list of the safety requirements expected on your boat before heading out to the open seas:
- Make sure there are enough life jackets for every boater present. No one wants to be stuck fighting for the last jacket WWE-style.
- Check to see if you have a fire extinguisher on board. Sounds crazy, a fire. On a boat. In the middle of the water. But hey. . . it happens and it's better to be safe than sorry. Think about the times when you were cooking in your tiny kitchen below deck and almost caught your oven baked fish on fire. Yeah, that's why you need it.
- Look to see if your boat lights work! This is a big deal. What if you got caught in a storm only to emerge in the dead of night and you suddenly realize your boat lights have failed. Makes it kind of hard for anyone to find you huh?
- Always make sure you have emergency supplies on hand including a map (in case you get lost), flares (either for 4th of July or when you're in the middle of nowhere), and a first aid kit (for those klutz's who always spoil the fun by either getting a splinter or obtaining a random injury only they would find)
- And last, but not least, an anchor. Where would you be without the single device designed to keep you in one spot if, in fact, crazy weather does decide to strike?
Keep in mind, these aren't the only safety tips one might need, but they are the most important. Heed these tips and you will be sure to maintain a safe and enjoyable adventure at sea.
No comments:
Post a Comment