Be safe on the water and have fun fishing!
Life Jackets
Your life vests or jackets are one of the most important items on your boat. You should have a wearable, well-maintained life jacket for every person on your boat. Some of the new inflatable life vests are nothing more than a pair of suspenders you wear that don’t get bulky until you need them.
If you have youngsters on the boat, wearing a life jacket is a must. Make your kids learn to swim at an early age. If you can’t teach them yourself there are plenty of classes around that will do the trick. Making sure your kids know how to swim and teaching them to be water smart makes outdoor excursions a lot easier and safer.
On larger vessels a throwable life saving device is required, and it and a safety line should be kept where it is easily accessible so it can be deployed in an emergency as quickly as possible. If you are staying at a campsite around the water, it doesn’t hurt to have a throwable device and a rope kept where it’s handy by the water.
Fire Extinguisher
You never know its value until you need it. When purchasing a fire extinguisher for your boat, you should be sure to get one that is capable of handling gas and electric fires, which are the most common fires on a boat. Make sure your fire extinguisher is up to date and fully charged, and is kept in a easy to get at place.
First Aid Kit
A well-stocked first aid kit is another must. When there is an on the water emergency you will have to render first aid long before you get to shore or help arrives. Some summer month additions include: sunblock for obvious reasons; insect repellent to keep the misquotes and greenhead flies at bay; insect sting medicine for bites; Dramamine for sea sickness. If you are on medication for a health problem, it doesn’t hurt to put some emergency medication in the kit, as well as a list of what medications you are on. Wearing a medical alert bracelet or tag is also smart.
Signaling Devices
Being dead in the water can be a real problem, especially if you don’t have a way to signal that you are in need of help. Waterproof flares are standard on a boat as they are viewable in the daytime or at night. Likewise, an air horn is also a mandatory signaling device on a boat. If your boat doesn’t have a marine radio, a handheld radio and a cell phone make a good second choice. However, cell phones will not have service in some areas. Your marine radio is not only important as a two-way device, it’s also your source for weather alerts from the National Weather Service. A waterproof flashlight should also be kept on your boat.
Bailing Devices
This item is mainly for open boats with no floor boards, especially in small boats (flat bottoms, canoes, etc.) with no bilge pump. A simple half gallon plastic milk container will do the job nicely. I also keep a sponge in the boat to get the water the bailer can’t handle.
Paddles
For smaller boats if the motor won’t start, at least a paddle can get you to shore. All boats should have an emergency paddle or two, especially if your boat is an electric power only boat.
Anchor
An anchor is not only for fishing and mooring your boat, should your engine fail an anchor can keep your boat from drifting into danger. It’s best to keep a three foot or longer length of chain between your anchor and anchor rope to help keep your anchor laying flat on the bottom to get the most traction with the anchor.
Spare Keys
Always keep a spare set of keys for your boat and vehicle in the boat. Should you accidently lock your keys in your vehicle or have them fall overboard, a spare set of keys can really save the day.
Life Jackets
Your life vests or jackets are one of the most important items on your boat. You should have a wearable, well-maintained life jacket for every person on your boat. Some of the new inflatable life vests are nothing more than a pair of suspenders you wear that don’t get bulky until you need them.
If you have youngsters on the boat, wearing a life jacket is a must. Make your kids learn to swim at an early age. If you can’t teach them yourself there are plenty of classes around that will do the trick. Making sure your kids know how to swim and teaching them to be water smart makes outdoor excursions a lot easier and safer.
On larger vessels a throwable life saving device is required, and it and a safety line should be kept where it is easily accessible so it can be deployed in an emergency as quickly as possible. If you are staying at a campsite around the water, it doesn’t hurt to have a throwable device and a rope kept where it’s handy by the water.
Fire Extinguisher
You never know its value until you need it. When purchasing a fire extinguisher for your boat, you should be sure to get one that is capable of handling gas and electric fires, which are the most common fires on a boat. Make sure your fire extinguisher is up to date and fully charged, and is kept in a easy to get at place.
First Aid Kit
A well-stocked first aid kit is another must. When there is an on the water emergency you will have to render first aid long before you get to shore or help arrives. Some summer month additions include: sunblock for obvious reasons; insect repellent to keep the misquotes and greenhead flies at bay; insect sting medicine for bites; Dramamine for sea sickness. If you are on medication for a health problem, it doesn’t hurt to put some emergency medication in the kit, as well as a list of what medications you are on. Wearing a medical alert bracelet or tag is also smart.
Signaling Devices
Being dead in the water can be a real problem, especially if you don’t have a way to signal that you are in need of help. Waterproof flares are standard on a boat as they are viewable in the daytime or at night. Likewise, an air horn is also a mandatory signaling device on a boat. If your boat doesn’t have a marine radio, a handheld radio and a cell phone make a good second choice. However, cell phones will not have service in some areas. Your marine radio is not only important as a two-way device, it’s also your source for weather alerts from the National Weather Service. A waterproof flashlight should also be kept on your boat.
Bailing Devices
This item is mainly for open boats with no floor boards, especially in small boats (flat bottoms, canoes, etc.) with no bilge pump. A simple half gallon plastic milk container will do the job nicely. I also keep a sponge in the boat to get the water the bailer can’t handle.
Paddles
For smaller boats if the motor won’t start, at least a paddle can get you to shore. All boats should have an emergency paddle or two, especially if your boat is an electric power only boat.
Anchor
An anchor is not only for fishing and mooring your boat, should your engine fail an anchor can keep your boat from drifting into danger. It’s best to keep a three foot or longer length of chain between your anchor and anchor rope to help keep your anchor laying flat on the bottom to get the most traction with the anchor.
Spare Keys
Always keep a spare set of keys for your boat and vehicle in the boat. Should you accidently lock your keys in your vehicle or have them fall overboard, a spare set of keys can really save the day.