A small percentage of drowning accidents occur when people leave a boat voluntarily and can’t get back on. Always keep at least one person on the boat and don’t go swimming alone. Some drownings take place when a swimmer is struck by a propeller. Never get out of the boat when the motor is running, avoid boating near swimmers, and don’t sit at the back railing of a speedboat. People go overboard for all kinds of different reasons. Minor collisions can send someone into the water, or someone may fall off when the weather gets bad. The type of boat may contribute to the most common type fatal emergency (i. e. speedboat collisions are probably more dangerous than pontoon collisions), but it’s rather difficult to find data on that.
Boating collisions led to over $67 million in property damage in 2021. If you’re responsible for a collision, you could be on the hook for a massive bill. [4] X Research source
Capsizing is a much larger risk with canoes and sailboats. Pontoons, speedboats, and other boats rarely flip over. If you’re kayaking, learn how to roll the kayak before you head out.
The best way to avoid grounding is to maintain a reasonable speed and keep your wits about you when you’re operating a boat.
If you are going to drink, sip it slowly and limit yourself to 1 drink every hour. Have a glass of water in between each alcoholic beverage as well. Never drink if you’re operating the boat. The risks and penalties are massive; it’s just as dangerous as drunk driving.
If you’re new to boating, stay close to the shore, keep your life vest on at all time, and don’t do anything outside of your abilities as a captain.
It’s likely that jet skis are high up there because you can rent them, so you end up with a lot of inexperienced operators on the water. If you take a motorized boat on the water, go slow. It can be tempting to let the engine rip—especially when nobody else is on the water—but that’s when accidents happen. As a rule of thumb, the bigger the boat is the safer it’ll be. Kayaks and canoes tend to be result in more boating incidents than big pontoons or yachts. [11] X Research source
Test your life jacket before getting on the boat to ensure that it fits and the clips lock in place correctly. Your life jacket should be comfortable, but fit snuggly.
Lightning isn’t the only risk when it storms. Inclement weather also tends to drive crazy waves and tide changes. If your boat can’t handle it, you could be swept out to sea or capsized.
If your boat is over 65. 5 feet (20. 0 m) in length, you’re legally required to have a marine radio on board. [16] X Research source
Boating lessons are a huge benefit, especially if you’re operating a motorboat, sailboat, or jet ski.
