Insurance
Even if someone else is operating the boat, the owner is
generally held liable for any damages or injuries that occur. It
is in the owner’s best interest to maintain sufficient personal
liability and property damage insurance on the boat in
anticipation of potential judgments. Guarding against theft is
another consideration.
Weather
Never leave the dock without first checking the local weather
forecast. Weather information is available from television,
radio, local newspaper, online or from a weather channel on a
VHF radio.
At certain times of the year, weather can change rapidly and
boaters should always keep an eye out for weather conditions.
While boating, pay attention to the following:
• Watch for cloud build-up, especially rapid, vertically
rising clouds.
• Sudden drop in temperature.
• Sudden change in wind direction and/or speed.
• On-board barometers, where placed on-board by the boat
owner, should be checked every two-to-three hours. A rising
barometer indicates fair weather and a rise in wind velocity;
a falling barometer indicates stormy or rainy weather.
What to do in severe weather:
• Reduce speed, keeping enough power to maintain headway.
• Put on PFDs.
• Turn on running lights.
• Head for the nearest shore or safe harbor that is safe to
approach, if possible.
• Head bow of boat into waves at 45-degree angle, if
possible.
• Keep bilges free of water.
• Seat passengers on bottom of the boat, near the centerline.
• If the engine fails, tie a sea anchor on a line from the bow of
the boat to keep the boat headed into the waves. A bucket
will work as a sea anchor in an emergency.
• Anchor the boat, if necessary.
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