4 ways to stay safer while boating this summer

(NC) With the boating season underway and summer around the corner, it’s time to brush up on how to keep you and your family safe out on the water this season. Here are some helpful tips from the Boating Office at Transport Canada:

1. Remember the “rules of the road”
   

   As a boat operator, it’s your responsibility to keep a constant watch for other boats and hazards. Knowing what actions the “stand on” and “give way” vessel should take are key to avoiding collisions. Keep in mind that even if you have the right of way, you still need to be ready to take quick action.

   You can stay safer by avoiding shipping lanes and larger vessels such as ferries, cruise ships and bulk carriers whenever possible. Larger vessels move faster than they seem like they can and take a long time to stop or alter their course. Remember that the captain of a larger ship may not be able to see you if you’re too close, so always keep a respectful distance away.

2. Use your navigation lights at night
   They let others see where you are and which way you’re facing—the back light is always white, and the lights at the front are always red to port and green to starboard. Regularly check to make sure that your navigation lights work properly. Remove anything that prevents your lights from being seen clearly and make sure you don’t have other lights on that could confuse other boats in the area. Remember: other boaters also rely on your navigation lights to see which way you’re facing, so they need to easily see the colours of your front lights.

3. Always stay sober on the water
   Stepping off the highway and into the channel, it can feel like different rules apply—but they don’t. Boating under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, other drugs and even prescription narcotics, is illegal, irresponsible and can be deadly. By keeping the party on the dock, you can keep yourself and everyone around you safe.

4. Maintain your safety equipment—and use it
   Of the boating drowning deaths last year, 85 per cent weren’t wearing their lifejackets. Of that number almost a quarter had lifejackets on board but couldn’t get to them in time. Take care of your lifejacket or PFD, and wear them whenever you leave dock so that they can take care of you.

Learn more about safe boating from the Transport Canada Office of Boating website at canada.ca/boatingsafety.