Boats are fun, but it's important to keep safety as a top priority whenever you're on the water. You'll need the right safety equipment for the times when the boating conditions put you in danger. You'll want to be prepared so that you're ready to handle anything the water throws at you. And at the end of the day, it's crucial to remember that human error is one of the leading causes of boating accidents. We here at Jet Ski of Miami care about our customers' safety, so we designed this short guide to help equip them with the safety knowledge they need to stay safe on the water. Stop by our dealership and showroom if you're interested in seeing some of the best boats on the market today! Located in Miami, Florida, we proudly serve Hialeah, Coral Gables, Miami Gardens, and Miami Beach, Florida.

Safety Preparation

The saying in medicine is that an ounce of prevention saves a pound of cure, and the same goes for boating safety. If you put more work into your preparation, you'll be less likely to find yourself in problematic situations and you'll be better equipped to deal with the ones you do find yourself in. Making a float plan is a helpful step. A float plan is simply a description of where you will be and when you will be there which you can give to someone on shore in the case that you get in trouble. When it comes to boating search and rescue, time and search radius make all the difference. The closer you stick to your float plan, the less time will pass before you are found.

You should also try to track down the most accurate weather forecast available. You might be comfortable boating in the rain or wind, but your boat might not be able to handle the surf if the storm picks up too much. You should also stay off the water during storms when lightning, squalls, and severe winds can make boating extremely dangerous.

Safety Equipment

Safety preparation and safety equipment go hand in hand. You'll need to make sure you have all the necessary gear to stay safe on the water and you'll also need to make sure it's all in good, working condition. As you are probably aware, a life jacket is the first piece of gear to buy for any boater. Every passenger on the boat should have a fitting life jacket. A life jacket won't protect you if you don't actually wear it, so make sure you keep yours strapped up tight. Even if you're a strong swimmer, a boating crash could leave you injured or unconscious, and thus, unable to swim to safety.

Another helpful piece of safety gear is a fully stocked first aid kit. This should have bandages, basic medicines, cold compresses, an epinephrine pen, and all the other necessary first aid equipment. You should also keep around a few signal flares, a fishing line and a few hooks, a survival knife, water purification tablets, a space blanket, and anything that might come in handy if you have an accident on the water. Navigational equipment such as a GPS, a compass, or a map can also be helpful.

Water Safety

Once you actually get out on the water, safety will become even more important. Make sure you are courteous to other boaters and especially swimmers. If another boat has swimmers in the water, drop your speed and go wide around them. Make sure someone else on the boat knows how to operate it in case something happens to you. Never boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and stay within the limits of your skill as a captain. That means you shouldn't push your boat faster than you're able to safely pilot it.

Hopefully these simple boating safety techniques gave you a few things to think about and will help you stay safe on your next trip out on the water. If you're new to boating, stop by Jet Ski of Miami. Our knowledgeable team will make sure you leave with the equipment and knowledge you need to have great boating trips. Located in Miami, we serve Hialeah, Coral Gables, Miami Gardens, Key Biscayne, Key Largo, and Miami Beach, Florida.