Boating is all about sharing experiences on the water. From the joy of taking your child fishing for the first time to a laid back Sunday spent with good friends, boat owners usually love the opportunity to share their passion. However, as generous as boaters are with sharing the joys of boating, that generosity ends right at theft. Though we hate to worry about it, boat security is definitely an important part of keeping your vessel and belongings safe.
Boat Security Systems
Just like your home or car, there are many different boat security systems worth your consideration. Depending on your specific needs, you could choose a:
Local Alarm: This system is the most traditional of security systems. Acting like you might expect a car alarm to, if the sensor is tripped, an audible alarm will sound, alerting all within earshot to the break in.
Remote Alarm: Taking the local alarm a step further, this security system will alert the boat owner remotely (via text, email or call) when the alarm is tripped.
Interactive: If even a remote alarm isn’t enough, there are boat security systems that allow you to remotely activate floodlights, kill engines or even release a deterrent gas into the cabin.
Once deciding the right line of protection for your vessel, do some research and find a model you can trust. Prices can vary widely depending on features and you definitely want to know that what you’re buying isn’t overpriced for your needs or an unreliable waste of money. Regardless of which boat security system you go with, we hope you never have to use it. However, as they say, it’s better to be safe than get your boat stolen.
For more guidance on this very subject, we highly recommend the in-depth boat security article from Boat US, which we used to gather much of the information for this blog post.
Spring is coming, and with it, prime boating season. OK, so Florida may not get the icy winters of our northern neighbors but even so, people tend to flock to the water once the heat starts coming back in full force. Before you do hit the water again this spring, make sure you follow these quick boat maintenance tips that could keep you and your family safe.
Safety First: Before all else, think of safety. Check your personal floatation devices to ensure they’re in good shape, double check the dates on your flares and fire extinguishers and replenish your first aid kit. Additionally, if you have emergency beacons, flashlights and strobes onboard, double check their batteries, as they may have been drained or corroded if left in devices too long.
Corrosion Check:From damaging UV sun rays to corrosive salt water, the belts, hoses and cables on your boat can take a beating. Before hitting the water, check all water and fuel hoses for cracks and damage, make sure belts aren’t showing signs of fraying and check that all cables are in tip-top shape. If any of these essentials are damaged, they could break on you mid-trip, leaving you and yours in bad shape. Take special care to check all pieces made of rubber, plastic and easily corroded metals.
External Evaluation:Though it may sound vain, your boat’s looks matter–not the color of paint or the detail work you decide on, but the shape your hull is in. Check for any damage, cracks or discoloration that may need to be addressed before your next trip. Also, be sure to wash your vessel thoroughly before and after your time on the water to avoid future damage and take the time to ensure that all lights are working on your vessel, as connections can become corroded or bulbs can break.
For some more specifics, check out this helpful video from Boat US:
You may want to rush out as soon as bathing suit weather hits, but it’s well worth the time and effort to make sure you do a bit of boat maintenance to ensure your next trip is a safe one. By checking your safety equipment, looking for corrosion and evaluating your hull and lights, you can make sure your vessel is shipshape and ready to take on a day of fun.
Boating with groups of friends or family is one of the true joys of boat ownership. There is nothing quite like hitting the water with some of your favorite people for a day of fun. However, for those without a boat, renting a chartering service can also be appealing for an exciting trip on the water. That day can quickly turn tragic if the vessel isn’t up to the task of safely chartering you and your guests.
Before booking a boatful of your favorites, you should understand the risks and considerations of chartering large parties on an uncertified vessel.
What to Know Before Booking a Chartering Trip with Large Parties
Only Coast Guard-certified and inspected vessels are allowed to carry parties larger than 12.
Overloaded boats could lead to extremely dangerous conditions, including tragic incidents such as the one that occurred in Tampa Bay in 2017.
With too many people aboard a non-certified vessel, the shifting weights can lead to stability issues and the potential to toss people overboard.
Larger parties require more pfds on board–one for each adult and child.
Though some may assume “it’ll be fine” if they book a large party aboard their vessel without confirming the boat’s inspection history and certification, it is vital to do so to ensure the safety of your loved ones. The US Coast Guard urges everyone who plans to charter more than 12 guests aboard their vessel to only do so with a regularly inspected and certified vessel that can handle such conditions. If you own a chartering service, do what’s right by your customers and operate safely. If you are paying for a chartering service, do not hesitate to ask if the vessel has been certified and inspected by the US Coast Guard before stepping foot aboard.
For anyone who forgot or was simply not living on the eastern coast of the US a few years back, the 2017 hurricane season was a rude reminder of just how dangerous Mother Nature is, and just how little control we have over her.
It’s not every hurricane season that we face Category 4 and 5 storms in quick succession, but last year saw hurricanes ravage the Caribbean, as well as Texas and Florida coastlines–the worst-hit areas still on the slow road to recovery. What does this mean for some of the country’s best and most beloved boating spots?
According to one article from TCPalm, of Florida’s 905,298 registered recreational vessels in 2016, somewhere in the range of 2,000-3,000 were damaged, destroyed or sunken. Efforts to recover boats stranded by the storm have resulted in the Federal Emergency Management Agency spending close to $12.5 million on their efforts.
With the destructive 2017 hurricane season behind us, it is a good time to prepare for the next season, now with the recent lessons learned about the importance of hurricane preparedness.
What can I do to protect myself before the next hurricane season?
Get Insured: Before hurricane season, look into exactly what is covered by your boat insurance policy to understand what recovery looks like for you and your vessel if the worst happens.
Make a Plan:If a hurricane is tracking directly for where your boat is stored and you don’t already have a plan to get out of Dodge, it’s already too late. Begin planning now and decide whether you will tow your vessel for safe storage or risk it on the water.
Write a Checklist:Making a list and checking it twice is great advice before a storm strikes. List all items on the vessel that must be either stripped from the boat or battened down and secured before the high winds, dangerous waves and heavy rain begin. This will keep you from entering panic mode and wasting time when you need it most.
Check with Your Marina:If your vessel is docked at a marina or private dock, call the manager of the dock to inquire the precautions they take to keep ships safe and what they recommend for keeping your boat protected during a big storm.
As with most things, the best way to enter hurricane season is prepared and with safety in mind. The worst thing to do before a hurricane hits is panic. Instead, take the time to get your ducks in a row so that you can simply and efficiently protect your vessel. In the meantime, have fun, boat safely and we’ll see you on the water!
With the week or two of cold that us Floridians call “winter” already in the rearview, you know what is just around the corner: pitch-perfect boating weather. Though you may have taken a little time off for the holiday season, the blue skies, scorching sun and warm waters on the horizon mean boaters will be coming out in droves. Unfortunately, more boaters means more cases of boating under the influence–but one group doesn’t think that has to be the case forever.
An effort to curb boating under the influence is picking up steam, called Sober Skippers. Backed by the Sea Tow Foundation, a boating safety and education group, the push to designate sober skippers before hitting the water is similar to efforts to get people to designate sober drivers on roadways and just as important.
There is a laid-back attitude in most aspects of boating, but that approach becomes dangerous, even life-threatening, when it’s applied to boating under the influence. Though you may think you can handle a couple of light beers without much effect, the truth is, operating a boat safely can be a tricky task in the best of conditions. With blowing winds, blinding sunlight, scorching temperatures, unpredictable weather conditions and even more unpredictable fellow boaters, why impair yourself further?
At Hi-Tide, we’re all for enjoying boating to the fullest, but we draw a line when fun surpasses safety. Boating under the influence is negligent and sets you and all aboard your vessel up for a completely avoidable accident. So when you hit the water this boating season, take the advice that the Sober Skipper program promotes: designate a sober skipper and, once safely back on land, buy them a beer or two. That seems like a win/win situation to us.
