Now that summer is here, you can finally look forward to spending your weekends on the open ocean aboard your boat. Do you wish to process your vessel documentation? If so, keep safety in mind as you get ready to bask in the sun’s warmth and enjoy some outdoor fun. Using the information on the USCG vessel documentation site, you can be safe when boating this season. In the warmer months, boat ownership comes with many responsibilities. Remember to put these boating safety rules into practice to ensure that your time spent on the water this summer is both enjoyable and risk-free.
Make Sure Your Vessel Documentation Is Properly Registered and Insured
Ensure that your boat is registered and insured appropriately. The federal government requires that any vessel with an engine of more than ten horsepower be documented with a Certificate of Documentation and numbered state registration; however, many states go above and beyond what is required by the federal government. Even if the person who helps you register your vehicle with the state doesn’t expressly ask for evidence of insurance, you should have some with you just in case they do. Before you go out on the water, it is a good idea to ensure your boat is covered by insurance through vessel documentation. It is far simpler to avoid damage than to restore it after it has occurred. It is essential to verify the credentials of any passengers you want to bring aboard during this season, particularly those with less boating experience than you have, especially if you plan to bring along any passengers.
Be Aware Of Other Boats and Maritime Traffic When Navigating
When navigating, you should always be alert to other boats and traffic on the water according to mass.gov. The most important thing you can do to protect yourself while you’re out on the water is to keep a close eye on the other boats in your immediate vicinity, paying attention to their position, speed, and course at all times. If you are aware of everyone’s whereabouts, you will be better able to navigate around obstacles and prevent a collision, which is particularly important in conditions when vision is limited. Before you set sail on your vessel, you should review the navigation charts and ensure that you have an up-to-date weather report. This will allow you to better prepare yourself for any changes in circumstances that could have an impact on your path.
Don’t Drink and Drive – Designate A Sober Driver For The Day.
Regarding boating safety recommendations, storms, navigation dangers, and so on are simple. Even so, you can take a few easy actions to ensure that your boat journey is both enjoyable and safe. Before doing anything else, plan how you’ll move from one place to the next. It’s easy to imagine that driving yourself is quicker and less expensive than taking a cab or hiring someone else to drive your boat since so many of them are now driven by tiny motors.
DUI charges may be brought against you if you even have a little alcohol in your system before you get behind the wheel (driving under the influence). Even if you don’t consume alcoholic beverages, physical variables such as exhaustion and heat may impair judgment, resulting in hazardous boating situations. Pre-designating a sober driver and having them drive home after the excursion is your best option. Remember that a few simple rules of thumb may go a long way when consuming alcohol while boating this summer: first, alternate non-alcoholic drinks with alcoholic ones.
Always Check the Weather Forecast and Use Common Sense before Heading Out
Before venturing out, it is important to double-check the forecast and apply common sense. Bring along an additional life jacket if the one you wear becomes soaked or is lost overboard (having one is required by law). Ensure that your vessel has a horn, nighttime lights, flares, a first aid kit, and a fire extinguisher, all of which are required safety equipment. And remember to put on your life jacket at all times! It is in your best interest not to depend only on your phone as a means of sending an emergency alert since cell phones have finite battery life and are not waterproof. The VHF maritime radio will continue to be your best option. If you are going to be out on the water and there is lightning in the vicinity, you should go back to the shore as soon as possible and wait it out!
Contact the Vessel Documentation Online LLC today at (877) 564-1398 for more. We are a vessel documentation site that provides information on handling your boat during the hot summer months. Summer is a great time to get out on the water with family, but you must consider boat safety.