5 Boating Safety Tips to Follow This Summer

Summer offers the perfect opportunity to take your friends or family out on a boat. It allows for a change of scenery while providing you with plenty of sunshine and fresh air. There are certain safety tips, however, you should follow when boating. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, over 4,000 boating accidents occur each year, many of which lead to injury. By following these boating safety tips, you and your passengers will be better protected against injury.

#1) Wear Life Jackets

Life jackets are arguably the most important piece of safety equipment when boating. Even if you know how to swim, you should still consider wearing one. Research shows that life jackets could save four in five boating-related fatality victims. By bringing a life jacket for yourself and all your passengers, you'll have a safer and more enjoyable boating trip.

#2) Adhere to No-Wake Zones

Always adhere to no-wake zones. No-wake zones are areas of the water in which boats are required to operate at idling speed so that they don't produce wakes. They are typically found around docks and marinas. When boating through a no-wake zone, you should use an idling speed. Only after exiting these areas should you accelerate to a faster speed.

#3) Check the Forecast

It's a good idea to check the forecast before heading out on the water. Bad weather is a risk factor for boating accidents. Not surprisingly, boating accidents are more common when it's rainy and windy as opposed to sunny and calm. If there's bad weather in the forecast, you may want to postpone your boating trip until a later date.

#4) Keep a Safe Distance

Keeping a safe distance from all other boats, watercraft and people on the water is another important safety tip to follow. Many states, in fact, have laws requiring boats to maintain a safe distance from each other. Some of them require at least 100 feet of clearance, for example, when boating in all areas other than no-wake zones. By keeping a safe distance, you'll be less likely to experience collisions that could otherwise cause injury.

#5) Get a Boat Inspection

When was the last time you had your boat inspected? If it's been a while -- or if you've never had it inspected -- you should consider doing so. The U.S. Coast Guard offers free boat inspections. They'll inspect your boat for signs of damage or failure that could otherwise lead to an accident. If there's a problem with your boat, you can get it fixed.