Essential Boat Safety Tips

Boating is an enjoyable hobby that can bring a lot of joy to your life, allowing you to spend time in nature with friends and loved ones. However, you do need to make sure you’re being safe about it, because operating a boat is as dangerous as operating any vehicle on land if you’re careless about it. Follow these tips so that you can ensure your boat trips are low-risk and pleasant. 

Educate Passengers

Before you depart the dock, all of your passengers should be appraised of the rules of your boat. This is particularly important for children and teens that might be traveling with you, or anyone who hasn’t been on a boat before. Let them know that they must avoid running, jumping, or climbing on the boat, and that no one should disturb the operator while the boat is moving. You should also appoint an experienced skipper who can take over the controls if you become unable to navigate your boat safely.

Carry Safety Supplies

Your boat should always be packed with necessary supplies to keep everyone comfortable and safe. This includes sufficient life jackets or personal flotation devices (PFDs) for every single passenger, a throwable life ring, a first-aid kit, a boat repair kit, signal flares, an emergency radio, blankets, warm clothing, nonperishable food, bottled water, and all of your documentation.

Maintain Your Boat 

Finally, any responsible boat owner should take great care to tend to their boat, especially the engine. Regular maintenance ensures that your boat doesn’t break down on you in the middle of the water or malfunction in a dangerous way that could result in an accident. If you ever require assistance with boat maintenance, you can get in touch with the River City Boat Sales service department to schedule an appointment with our mechanics.

Ready to check out new and used boats for sale in Oregon? Come see us at our Aurora, OR, dealership today to take a tour of our full inventory of new and used boats for sale. Let us know if you’d like to use our financing options on your purchase. River City Boat Sales & Marine Services welcomes our customers from the cities of Wilsonville and Canby, OR.