by Wayne Spivak, Branch Chief – Training Department, USCG Auxiliary
Source: americanboating.org
There is something that every boat owner can be doing during the down time between winterizing your boat and getting ready for the upcoming season.
Think Boating Safety!
There is no time like the present to examine the past boating season, and plan for the next. Maybe you just sold your boat, or are in the process. What type of boat and boating are you now looking forward to? How does this impact the safety of you and your passengers? Are you in need of more boating education? Do you have enough piloting and operating experience in the class of boat that you are purchasing?
Maybe you’re keeping your boat for next season, but found you had some difficulties maneuvering her, or confusion about buoys and how to read them. Again, additional boating education may solve this dilemma.
In either case, you are going to need to either check and see if your safety equipment is current (now is a good time to do this) or what type of equipment you may need to purchase.
Here’s a list of removable or portable safety equipment (I’m taking a very broad view on the word safety). While not all inclusive, it should cover the majority of the equipment you have, whether federally or state mandated or just common sense items: