Read this safety guide for a comprehensive overview of boat capacity and boat carriage requirements.

Sound-signaling devices are essential for boating safety. They communicate navigation info, warn of danger, and signal for help in emergencies. 

Learn to keep some trouble, (not all) away.

Is your boat protected if it should be one hit by lighting? Find out the steps that you can take to protect your boat and crew if you get caught in a lighting storm.

With the proliferation of affordable commercial assistance outfits such as Sea Tow and TowBoatU.S. plus the constantly
improving reliability of marine engines, it’s not nearly as common as it once was for recreational boaters to tow other boats. That’s a good thing. Safe towing requires the right equipment and a good bit of
know-how, and it’s best left to professionals.

Make sure seals and tamper indicators are not broken or missing. Make sure pressure gauges or indicators read in the operable range. (CO2 extinguishers do not have gauges and instead must meet a minimum weight requirement.)

Are you in need of more boating education? Do you have piloting experience in the class of boat that you are purchasing?

DO NOT OPERATE YOUR BOAT WITHOUT DOING THE FOLLOWING: Make sure you know where exhaust outlets are located on your vessel. Educate all passengers about the syptoms of CO poisoning and where CO may accumulate. When docked, or rafted with another boat or boats, be aware of exhaust emissions from the other boat(s).

Remember: Boat Smart from the Start.