The boating season is almost here! In all the excitement, it’s easy to forget the simple things we can do to keep ourselves safe while out on the water.
At Lake Escapes, we endeavor to make your boating trip as fun and safe as possible so you can hit the water and enjoy your time without worry. It’s fun simplified.
With that in mind, we maintain our boats in excellent mechanical condition and keep them immaculately clean to avoid as much wear on the crafts as possible.
However, there are some things we can’t control, so here are a few items to keep in mind for your safety on your next boating adventure.
- Check the Weather- Although the weather forecast can be a bit off sometimes, it never hurts to be prepared. Take a moment to check the forecast for your trip and that way, you know to pack an extra layer if it promises to be a bit chilly…or, heaven forbid, if the weather’s going to be completely abysmal, you know to save your boating money for a later day.
- Stay Alert– It’s fun to get out away from everything and forget the daily life but we can’t guarantee someone else isn’t doing the same. So please stay alert for other boats on the water. It helps to keep in mind that a larger boat may not be able to stop as fast or turn as easily as you can.
- Familiarize Yourself with the Boat - It’s never a bad idea to have more than one person on board who is familiar with the boat’s operations. If the primary driver is injured or incapacitated in any way, it’s important to make sure someone else can get everyone back to shore.
- Tell Someone the Plan - Telling someone who’s not on the boat about the when and where of your outing ensures someone’s aware of when you should be back. In that case, that person can send help if, for whatever reason, you don’t make it back to shore and can’t get a call out.
- Life Jackets – Familiarize yourself with the life jackets before you leave shore. Make sure there’s enough for everyone in your party and you’re comfortable with adjusting them. That way there’s no chaos if you find yourself in need of them. You can read more about Life Jackets/PFD’s here.