From a big exam to getting through tax season without a migraine, most things in life are made substantially easier with a bit of preparation. Boating is no different, and by following a few tips and preparing for the worst, you can ensure your safety and the safety of your passengers in the catastrophic case of a sinking boat. It may not be fun to think about, but these tips may just save your life if tragedy strikes while you’re out at sea.
Preparation
According to How Stuff Works, the most common reasons why boats sink include:
Flooded Bilge: As the lowest point of your boat, it’s common for water to collect here. Many boaters opt for a bilge pump that will automatically turn on once the water level in the bilge reaches a certain height.
Missing Drain Plugs: An incredibly easy oversight to make is to forget to return unplugged drain plugs once your vessel is stationary. Many boaters keep their plugs in an area that’s always in sight, as an easy reminder to put them back.
Collision: Know your route and take it slow. Make sure to check the weather report before hitting the water, know the depth of waters you’re charting and always stay vigilant while in unfamiliar waters.
Low Transom: Another preventable sinking risk is a low-sitting transom. Avoid unnecessary risk by avoiding storing heavy items in the stern of your ship. Also, never anchor from the stern side, as this may significantly lower your transom.
Engine Leaks: Checking your engine for leaks, especially the cooling system, is important to ensure that corrosion or broken tubing isn’t pumping gallons of water into your vessel once you embark.
Action
Actions to take if your sinking boat is beyond salvage:
Remain Calm: This may seem like an impossible task, but panicking will only lead to chaos on a sinking boat. Study up on your boat safety drills and be ready to give or receive clear orders on what your crew and passengers next actions should be after the ship takes on water.
Get Safety Equipment: There are some vital items that could be literal lifesavers if you’re forced to abandon ship. Always keep safety items onboard and in appropriate numbers for all passengers and crew, including life vests and emergency locator beacons. A popular option is to have an “abandon ship bag” ready and onboard at all times, while ensuring that all passengers wear personal floatation devices.
Call for Help: If you have the time, and only if, call mayday on the VHF channel one-six to report your emergency to the Coast Guard. This marine channel is under constant monitoring and may help ensure that you and your loved ones receive the emergency assistance you need. As a backup, always have emergency locator beacons on-hand.
It’s not something any boater wants to think about, but it is also of utmost importance that you know what to do in the case of a sinking boat. Stay informed on time-tested safety measures and always follow the laws and regulations that keep us all safe while on the water.
“Boating is too expensive.” “Boating is too hard.” “I caught an 8-foot marlin off the coast of Panama in the early 1980’s.” Boating culture is full of tall tales. Unfortunately some of these myths enter the echochamber with ill intent, keeping people that would otherwise love their time on the water landlocked in fear and doubt based on exaggerations or lies. Check out our hand-selected list of some big myths that surround boat ownership, as well as an important reminder for those already on the water.
Boat Ownership Myths
Pay to Play: Is buying a boat the surefire way to end up in debt that many (often non-boaters) claim it to be? We certainly hope not, but let’s break down some facts. Boats do require an investment of time and money, due to upkeep costs, insurance, gas and more. However, if you place the costs of boat ownership in comparison to other leisure activities such as a season of skiing or golfing with your family, the cost is actually smaller than you’d think. With many boat dealers offering helpful financing options, there may be less between you and the boat of your dreams than you’d think.
Boating for Dummies: Isn’t boating extremely difficult and complicated to do without years of experience? Well, like most skills, it’s often easier the more often you do it. This is where the widely available safety and boating basics courses can make a big difference in your confidence and competence when setting off on your first boat trip.
DUI Still Applies: Drinking and boating isn’t nearly as dangerous as drinking and driving, right? Wrong. According to Boat U.S. Foundation, nearly half of all boating accidents involve alcohol. As mentioned above, driving a boat is skill-based activity. If your skills are hindered due to inebriation, you cannot captain your boat as safely or efficiently as you could sober. Florida law doesn’t mince words: boating with a blood-alcohol level of .08 or higher is illegal.
The bottom line is, we love boating and would love nothing more than to share that passion with others interested in jumping into this wonderful hobby and lifestyle. Do your research, learn the hard facts and, hopefully, we’ll see you on the water soon!
Florida is known for many things: theme parks, beaches, sunshine and oranges all rank highly on popularity polls. However, for many boaters, Florida fishing is the real reason to call The Sunshine State home. From freshwater to deep sea, lagoons to lakes, Florida is an undeniable treasure trove for fishing enthusiasts around the world.
Though many boaters’ favorite fishing spots are often kept something like a chef’s secret recipe, we’d like to share a few popular spots to enjoy boating and Florida fishing opportunities in virtually every corner of the state.
Indian River Lagoon: If you want redfish, these eastern lagoons offer them in droves. These waterways are known for their natural beauty just off the eastern coast of Florida, located in Titusville.
Miami: This South Florida city is not only known for being home to millionaires and serving up killer Cuban coffee. Miami offers a large variety of saltwater fish to reel in on your next trip, including the prized swordfish.
Jacksonville: Known as The River City by the Sea, Jacksonville is a perfect mix of saltwater, freshwater, deep sea and fly fishing opportunities. Don’t miss the annual Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament if you’re planning a visit in July.
The Florida Keys: Not just beautiful, unique and independent beach towns, the Florida Keys boast some truly world-class Florida fishing opportunities. Sailfish, marlin, bonefish, tarpon and so many others inhabit the blue waters surprisingly close to the shores of Cuba.
Sarasota: Featuring offshore, deep sea and intercoastal fishing, this Gulf-of-Mexico-adjacent town is great for luring in the likes of Spanish mackerel, flounder, bluefish, tarpon, red snapper and more.
If you’re a newcomer to any of the above, fishing-friendly towns, look into asking local guides for tips on their favorite spots to cast a reel under the famous Florida sun. There’s no shortage of reasons to get out on the water, so get out the poles and have some fun with your family and friends.
Though boating is a pastime that we love, it does come with some inherent dangers that any boater should be prepared for. How do you prepare for emergencies on the water? Well, a little education and a lot of practice can go a long way when staying safe on your next boating trip. It may not be the most fun activity to do on your day of leisure, but practicing regular boating safety drills is vital to the safety of yourself, your friends and loved ones while on the water.
Important Safety Drills to Practice
Fire Drill: Unlike the drills you remember from grade school, these fire drills test to ensure you know your extinguisher placement on all decks, as well as illustrating if there are enough extinguishers onboard to avoid being trapped by potential flames. Unlike on land, there is nowhere to run if your boat becomes overwhelmed with flames. Run through some worst-case scenarios to make sure your boat can handle the heat.
Man Overboard (MOB): It’s a nightmare scenario, and one that can happen all too often; a passenger falls overboard. In the case of a MOB, it’s vital to not only know what to do (such as keeping the MOB in sight at all times and how to maneuver your vessel properly), but also to demand that all passengers, and yourself, wear life jackets. Practice this scenario by tossing a spare life jacket into the water and seeing if you and your passengers can safely and quickly rescue the dummy MOB.
Sinking Ship: In the extreme circumstance that your vessel is going down, you must have the knowhow and preparation to abandon ship quickly and safely. Common life-saving items include a fully stocked ditch bag and Personal Location Beacon (PLB) or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). In a drill scenario, make sure you would be able to send out a distress call, turn on your beacon and grab your ditch bag without issue.
Though boating is incredible fun for people of all ages and from all walks of life, it’s a recreational activity that requires you to respect its inherent dangers. Ensure that you not only have vital safety equipment (such as life jackets, fire extinguishers and location devices) but can also use them in an extreme, emergency situation. Keep yourself and your loved ones safe by practicing safety drills and following boating best practices while on the water; It may just save your life someday.
If you live in Florida, you’re likely used to summer weather starting around the same time your taxes are due and lasting until Thanksgiving. By mid-June, you’re lucky to not be scorched just by walking from your car to the beach. As Randy, Penn and I made our way from Toronto to the rural areas east of the city, our experience with Lake Ontario was a bit different.
Firstly, I forget that in places featuring below-freezing temperatures for the better part of the year, school is in session until the close to the summer solstice (around June 21), restarting after Memorial Day. This means that many boating attractions don’t get into full swing until July. Second, apparently the weather sometimes takes the summer solstice quite literally, and in some places, bodies of water don’t entirely thaw until the summer season has officially arrived.
This is what we experienced in Prince Edward County, a beautiful and unexpectedly progressive region just two hours east of Toronto. The Globe dubbed it, “the gastronomic capital of Ontario,” which is no slight accomplishment given its proximity to its notoriously hip neighboring city. The region is full of breweries, distilleries, wineries and locally-sourced cuisine and, given the weather we experienced, it seems we would have been better off exploring all of that. Instead, we attempted to get out onto Lake Ontario, only to find that many boat rental locations had yet to be fully operational; we ended up settling for dune climbing and beach lazing.
While we were sitting on the beach I noticed a slight haze blowing up the beach toward the dunes. When I see this at the Florida beaches back home, it’s simply the reaction of beach sand on a windy day. On the shores of Lake Ontario, however, I realized that I wasn’t feeling grains of sand pelting my body. And with each gust of wind, I also noticed a slight chill that cut underneath the warmth of the sun. I’m far from being a weather expert, but as Randy and I were puzzling over this hazy phenomenon, we realized its origin. Since summer was still in its early stages, the temperature of Lake Ontario was still far below that of the air. The meeting of the two elements created a mist of condensation, constantly showering beachgoers.
I was amused and humbled by this phenomenon at the same time. When I’m on the beach in Florida, especially around spring break time, I relish a good chuckle when I see pasty northerners slathering themselves with sunscreen and hiding under umbrellas and sun-protective clothing. At this moment on the shores of Lake Ontario, I got to laugh at myself huddling from the cold while the Canadians in bikinis got their summer party on.
