5 Tips for Safe Boating in Vero Beach

Boating in Vero Beach is common, and if you are a boat owner, you want to be safe all the time. It's easy to forget about some of the basic safety rules, though when you are safer, you're more likely to avoid injuries and accidents.

Schedule Boat Maintenance

Just as you schedule maintenance for your car, you want to do the same for your boat. Wash your boat, check the propeller from time to time, and be sure that the oil is changed on a regular basis. This will ensure that your boat is always running at peak performance so you don’t encounter issues while out on the water.

Buy Enough Life jackets

Life jackets may not need to be worn all the time, but you want to have them on board in case there is a storm or another issue where there is the risk of someone going overboard. Be sure you have enough jackets to distribute one to every person who is on the boat. If you are going to have babies or kids on board, you want smaller sized jackets, too.

Take a Boating Course

There are a lot of rules of the water. This includes knowing the speeds, what the various markers mean, and more. To ensure you know as much as you can, a boating course should be taken. To find out what courses are available, you can contact the United States Power Squadrons as well as the location you bought your boat. Being safe with your boat in Vero Beach is critical and a course that takes a few hours is well worth your time (and money).

Have a First Aid Kit

You will want to have a first aid kit on board so that you can take care of any issues. Whether it is a simple scratch or there is something more severe, you can provide the necessary first aid until the Coast Guard arrives, or until you are able to get to land. There are various first aid kits available, and some are designed specifically for boating.

Obtain a Reliable Means of Communication

Cell phones are not always the most reliable form of communication, especially when you are miles away from land. There are various radios that you can get that will allow you to communicate with the Coast Guard and anyone else in the event of an accident. First responders can make a world of a difference in terms of how an accident can end.

Safe boating in Vero Beach is entirely possible. By following a few basic tips, you can make sure that you are safe any time that you spend the day (or night) out on a boat. You will also want to explore boat insurance so that you can have financial protection against anything that may occur as well, ranging from a crash all the way to theft.