Boat Safety Tips

Because there have been an increase in boat accidents and boat injury in Southwest Florida (recreational boating capital), make sure you follow these boat safety tips about avoiding serious personal injury:

1. Collisions - Make sure you keep an eye on what is happening around you, especially when going round corners, through tunnels, and in locks. If you think you are about to collide with something, shout a warning to your passengers.
2. Falls - Keep your boat tidy to avoid tripping over anything. Be careful of ropes when moored, take extra care at night.
3. Crushing - If you do collide with something, you don't want to be in the way. The boat has a large amount of momentum, so don't use hands or feet to stop the movement of your boat. And never position yourself between the boat and the bank, tunnel or bridge.
4. Operating injuries - Boating can be quite physical, so make sure you don't strain yourself too much, and share the work involved with the rest of the crew (of experienced family and friends who are on the boat).
5. Locks - Operating locks can be the trickiest part of a boating holiday. So don't rush the procedure, moving through a lock can take about 20 minutes. Always watch what is going on around you, and keep a look-out for your passengers.
6. Strong flows - Most rivers you face will flow fairly slowly, however the river flows more quickly around locks and weirs, so pay extra attention at these points. This is less applicable to boating on the Gulf, although paying attention to small boat advisories is critical.
7. Falling in - if one of your passengers falls into the river or Gulf, don't put the boat into reverse. This could result in your passenger being dragged into the propeller. Turn the engine off, and throw a lifebelt to the person in the water. If you are on a canal, the person in the water may be able to stand up, and walk out.
8. Fire - Bottled gas is used for cooking and heating. This gas is heavier than air, so if a leak occurs the gas will build up at the bottom of the boat; and a single spark could set off a fire.

Accidents and injuries are avoidable.  Follow these tips, as well as U.S. Coast Guard Regulations (see here), and you'll decrease your risk of bodily injury while enjoying Southwest Florida's favorite pastime.