swamping.
Avoid collisions
Scan constantly for people, objects, and
oth- er boats. Be alert for conditions that
limit your visibility or block your vision of
others.
ZMU06025
Operate defensively at safe speeds and
keep a safe distance away from people, ob-
jects, and other boats.
Do not follow directly behind
other boats or waterskiers.
Avoid sharp turns or other
maneuvers that make it hard for others to
avoid you or un- derstand where you are
going.
Avoid areas with submerged
objects or shallow water.
Ride within your limits and avoid
aggres- sive maneuvers to reduce the
risk of loss of control, ejection, and
collision.
Take early action to avoid
collisions. Re- member, boats do not
have brakes, and stopping the engine or
reducing throttle can reduce the ability to
steer. If you are not sure that you can
stop in time before hitting an obstacle,
apply throttle and turn in another
direction.
Weather
Stay informed about the weather. Check
weather forecasts before boating. Avoid
boating in hazardous weather.
Accident reporting
Boat operators are required by law to file a
Boating Accident Report with their state
boating law enforcement agency if their
boat is involved in any of the following
accidents:
1. There is loss of life or probable loss of
life.
2. There is personal injury that requires
medical attention beyond first aid.
3. There is property damage to boats or
other property over a certain amount.
4. There is complete loss of a boat.
Contact local law enforcement personnel if
a report is necessary.
Boat education and training
Operators should take a boating safety
course. This may be required in your state.
Many of the organizations listed in the next
section can provide information about
cours- es in your area.
You may also want to consider an Internet-
based program for basic boater education.
The Online Boating Safety Course provided
by the BoatU.S. Foundation, is approved by
the National Association of State Boating
Law Administrators (NASBLA) and recog-
nized by the United States Coast Guard.
Most, but not all, states accept this course
to meet their minimum requirements. While
it cannot replace an in-depth course such
as one offered by the U.S. Coast Guard,
U.S. Power Squadron, or other
organization, this online course does
provide a general over- view of the basics in
boating safety, require- ments, navigation,
and operation. Upon successful completion
of the course, the user can download a
certificate of comple- tion immediately or,
for a small charge, re- quest one by mail. To
take this free course, go to boatus.org.
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