Boating Safety Tips for Labor Day Weekend

Using proper boat safety is always so much more important during a holiday weekend because of the increased number of recreational boaters and the revelry that comes along with any holiday. Labor Day weekend is especially busy because for many boaters it is the last hoorah before the end of the summer season and when their boats need to be winterized.

Even if everyone else is or is not practicing safe boating, it is important that boating safety for Labor Day is your top priority. The following safety tips are some of the most basic, but also the most important when it comes to making sure you and your friends do everything you can to return from your boating trip unharmed.

Boating Etiquette
Always practice boating etiquette, especially during a holiday weekend when the number of boaters is bound to increase. Every one is eager to get out on the water and back to the dock at pretty much the same time, sometimes all it takes it a little courtesy and boating etiquette to make everything go as seamless as possible. Practicing boating etiquette also reduces the occurrence of needless run ins, intentional and unintentional accidents by careless or negligent boaters. I've seen both the intentional and unintentional happen when a little courtesy could have resulted in an entirely different outcome-- you are better safe than sorry.

Skip the Alcohol
Like driving on the road, operating a boat on the water and alcohol do not mix. If your intention is to drink and be merry while on the water, make sure you have a designated driver. It should also be the responsibility of the operator and the boat owner to control the amount of alcohol that is being consumed by other passengers. Not only is it smart to make sure your boat is being operated by someone who is sober, it is also important that your passengers are not inebriated beyond self control. The last thing you want is for one of your passengers to fall overboard and then have to stage a search and rescue for someone that is completely unable to help themselves because they drank too much.

Designate a First Mate
Always, always make sure that there is an additional body onboard that can handle the boat you are using in case of an emergency. I cannot tell you how many times I have been aboard a friend's boat and something has happened to the owner, leaving everyone else to stare at each other wondering what to do and how to do it. Thankfully, I am comfortable handling a boat and have done it often enough to take over, but no one knew that I could in most instances. Depending on where you are boating, there is always the potential for something to go wrong, so make sure there are at least two people on board that knows how to handle a boat and use its instruments.

Maintain Your Equipment
Most boaters only do the obligatory equipment check at the beginning and the end of the season, because, face it, there is a lot of stuff that you keep around, but most of it goes unused. It is important that you check and continue to maintain everything you have onboard though, especially for a busy weekend like Labor Day-- otherwise, why bother to keep it around at all. Carry and maintain all personal flotation devices, safety gear, such as fire extinguishers, flares, emergency lights and first aid kit. When you need to use this equipment, there is no time to make fixes or repairs, much less is this the time to realize that you are without.

Respect Navigation Rules
Like boating etiquette, navigation rules are important to follow because they are basically the rules of the road on the water. Respect marina rules, no wake speeds, and water traffic rules at all times while you are boating. When there are that many people out on the water it tends to get a little crowded and it takes a little longer to get around. This does not mean that it is okay to ignore water safety or bend the rules to meet your needs. Respect those around you and they will do the same-- in most cases.