By consulting a safe boating guide and obtaining the required certificates before you go out on the water, you not only protect yourself and family, but other boaters on the water. The following resources will help you learn more about boating education and instruction:
Boating Courses
- American Boating Education - Officially Approved Boating Safety Education Courses and Online Tests for Your Boat License or Boater Safety Certification
- Boatsafe.com - Safety Equipment Requirements and Age Restrictions by State
- BoatUS Foundation - On-Line boating courses. This course is approved to meet the basic boater education requirements in certain states.
- Colgate Schools - Learn to confidently handle a sailboat or power boat with finesse from sailing and power boating certified instructors.
- Sailing Schools - Choose from a list of specialty sailing schools in your area.
- U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - These courses provide instruction to boaters at all levels, from the fundamental to the advanced.
- United States Power Squadrons - Learn the fundamentals of safe boat handling from experts
Life jackets
One of the main reason people love boating is the freedom it offers—cruising the open water, enjoying the wind, sun and spray. So, it’s tempting to boat without wearing a life jacket, especially in good weather. Today’s life jackets come in an almost limitless array of shapes, sizes and colors. They offer comfort, style and flexibility. What’s more, you can find life jackets tailor-made for specific activities, like fishing, boating, skiing or sailing.
When choosing a life jacket, make sure it’s been designed for your planned activities and that it fits. A life jacket that doesn’t fit properly won’t work properly.
You MUST have a life jacket on board for every person on the boat. Though not required, they should be worn at all times when the vessel is underway. Why? Well, no one plans an accident—but you can plan for safety. Start by wearing a life jacket whenever you’re on the water. After all, it’s a fact that most drowning victims had a life jacket available and chose not to wear it.
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Family Boating: Safety Tips for Boating with Kids
Boating is a great way to spend time with your children. Nature provides endless lessons for the young boater and there are also many tasks that can be assigned to youngsters to teach responsibility. It is important to establish boating safety rules and procedures to reduce the chance of trouble or injury during your excursion. Furthermore, if youngsters will be joining you, there are a few features you should consider before making your purchase.
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Emergency Situations
It is important to be prepared if an emergency occurs while you are out on the water. For example, do you know what to do if the captain of your boat is unable to handle the vessel?, Who will take over? Who knows how to drive the boat? Who knows where everything is on the boat?
In an emergency, the first thing is to stay calm. Second, ensure everyone on board is wearing their life jacket. Third, survey the situation so that you can radio for help. Know the name of your boat, the location of your boat (see GPS), how many are on board, the type of emergency, and if anyone is wounded.
If the boat has a ship to shore radio, tune it to channel 16 (United States Coast Guard) and clearly say “MAYDAY” three times for life threatening emergencies or SECURITE" (pronounced: secure-i-tay) for safety emergencies that are non life threatening.
A safety emergency is where your boat is not in immediate/life threatening danger, but could become without assistance.
Procedure for VHF Channel 16 MAYDAY:
- If you have an MF/HF radiotelephone tuned to 2182 kHz, send the radiotelephone alarm signal if one is available. If you have a VHF marine radio, tune it to channel 16. Unless you know you are outside VHF range of shore and ships, call on channel 16 first.
- Distress signal "MAYDAY", spoken three times.
- The words "THIS IS", spoken once.
- Name of vessel in distress (spoken three times) and call sign or boat registration number, spoken once.
- Repeat "MAYDAY" and name of vessel, spoken once.
- Give position of vessel by latitude or longitude or by bearing (true or magnetic, state which) and distance to a well-know landmark such as a navigational aid or small island, or in any terms which will assist a responding station in locating the vessel in distress. Include any information on vessel movement such as course, speed and destination.
- Nature of distress (sinking, fire etc.).
- Kind of assistance desired.
- Number of persons onboard.
- Any other information which might facilitate rescue, such as length or tonnage of vessel, number of persons needing medical attention, color hull, cabin, masks, etc.
- The word "OVER"
For example:
MAYDAY-MAYDAY-MAYDAY
THIS IS OUT TO SEA OUT TO SEA OUT TO SEA MI1234
CAPE HENRY LIGHT BEARS 185 DEGREES MAGNETIC-DISTANCE 2 MILES
STRUCK SUBMERGED OBJECT
NEED PUMPS-MEDICAL ASSISTANCE AND TOW
THREE ADULTS, TWO CHILDREN ONBOARD
ONE PERSON COMPOUND FRACTURE OF ARM
ESTIMATE CAN REMAIN AFLOAT TWO HOURS
OUT TO SEA IS FORTY FOOT CABIN CRUISER-WHITE HULL-BLUE DECK
OVER
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