There couldn’t be a better time to celebrate the lifting of COVID restrictions and the official beginning of boat season! As we all pack our sunscreen and towels, and head out to our favorite lakes, rivers, inlets and oceans, we wanted to share some good safety reminders from our friends at the National Marine Manufacturers Association.
This week is National Safe Boating Week. And although we will be talking about safe boating practices all summer, we thought NMMA’s observance was the perfect time to start.
Top 12 Safety Items You Need on Your Boat
Depending on the type of boating you do and where you do it, some of these may be required or only recommended items. Either way, you can pack most of these aboard even the smallest of boats.
- Medical kit for cuts, scrapes, seasickness or small emergencies
- Anchor with line to hold your boat in place while you wait for help to arrive
- Bailing device or bucket to dewater and stay afloat
- Oars or paddles if the engine quits
- Cellphone to call for help
- VHF radio to call for help
- Knife to cut a line around a fouled propeller
- Snorkel mask to inspect what’s going on under the boat
- Heavy duty flashlight
- Skier or diver down flag
- Working running lights if your boat is equipped with them
- A way to get weather updates because things can change quickly even on a lake
For more on safety from NMMA, head on over to their feature on 12 Safe Boating Tips. You will learn the basics to ensure you’re safe and responsible while out on the water.
Happy Boating from all your friends at Morbern!