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Trailer Boating
Small runabouts are the most popular type of vessel on our waterways.
Small runabouts are the most popular type of vessel on our waterways. Open runabouts of less than 4.8m are often referred to as “aluminum boats” and due to their size they are more susceptible to capsize and swamping than larger vessels.
Every captain of a small vessel needs to take extra care when planning and preparing for a day out, and of course, lifejackets are a key safety item.
Lifejackets
Lifejackets have come a long way in form and function over the years. From the uncomfortable and bulky designs of the past, today’s lifejackets come in a range of styles and are much more convenient and comfortable to wear.
There’s a range of information available about lifejacket requirements when boating.
Alcohol
Boating is a great way to spend time with family and friends, but go easy on the drink. A lot of people already feel a bit wobbly if they’re not used to being on a boat - mix in a few drinks, and the effects of sun, wind and waves and alcohol can be a lethal combination.If you’re the captain, you’re responsible for the safety of everyone on board. So take it easy on the water and remember in most cases ( check with local law enforcement) you can only have a drink at anchor or tied to the dock if you have a fixed galley and head on board your vessel.
Navigate safely
Speed and wash
If you’re out on a powerboat, just keep an eye on your speed and the amount of wash you’re making. They can both be dangerous.
Always make sure you’re travelling at a safe speed for the conditions and keep a proper lookout.
When you’re traveling at night or if there are lots of other boats around, you should slow down.
And don’t forget to look behind and regularly check your wash so you’re not being a nuisance or danger to others on the water.
Lights
When you’re boating at night, it’s a completely different ballgame.
Unlike driving a car where you use your headlights to see where you’re going, with a boat you use your lights to show others where you are.
If your lights aren’t fitted properly, you can’t expect others to see you.
As the captain, you must make sure you have the correct lights, and they’ re in proper working order. Do not operate your boat with the spot light on constantly ( another boater cannot tell if he/she is behind you or in front of you from a distance) or the docking lights on while out on the water.
Proper lookout
The more you know about boating and what to do when you’re on the water, the better your day. One of the most important things you need to make sure you do is to keep a proper lookout at all times.
Things for everyone on board to keep an eye out for are any floating debris, hazards like submerged reefs or rocks, other boats, especially kayaks and dinghies, and of course swimmers.
And if you’re in a navigation channel, entering a narrow passage, or on a sharp bend, always make sure you keep right.
Plan and prepare
Cold water
No matter what you do out on the water, the more you plan and perpare, the better off you’ll always be. And that goes for the bad as well as the good.
If you’re out on a calm summer’s day and boating on a quiet river, the risk of hypothermia is low.
However, if you’re boating offshore, or in high country areas in winter, it’s a totally different story
Good captains and crew always wear the right clothes for the conditions so they don’t get cold and risk hypothermia.
So when you’re getting rugged up to keep out the cold, you should ask yourself, - “Could I swim in this gear if I had to?” If you’re not sure then you should wear a lifejacket. It’s not just a lifesaver, it can also keep you warm .
Boat suitability
No matter what boat you head out on, whether it’s a canoe, jet ski, yacht or even a luxury cruiser, they all have their limits.
So it’s a good idea to make sure whichever one you’re on, that it’s suitable for the conditions.
You should always check the weather forecast before you go and ask about localised river, lake or sea conditions. Above all, be sure that you and your vessel can handle the conditions.
Small boats offshore
When you’re boating offshore, you should think about more than just the adventure. Certain conditions can make it quite risky.
The right thing to do is plan your trip. First and foremost, make sure your boat’s up to it. You should also use different sources to check the weather and check that all safety gear is on board and in proper working order.
Part of your planning should include thinking about wind, waves, tides and also safe havens should the conditions change.
If you’re going more than 2 miles offshore, you need a marine radio and should consider a EPIRB emergency beacon.
And always remember to tell someone where you’re going,, when you expect to return and make sure they’ll check. The easiest way is to use your marine radio to log on with the coastal radio network.
Take care - be prop aware
Boat propellers pose a risk that can be easily ignored or forgotten because they are under the water, ‘out of sight and out of mind’.
But a strike from a spinning propeller can cause serious injury or even death.
A typical three-bladed propeller - which spins at around 3200rpm - can make more than 160 impacts per second, and can travel from head to toe of an average person in less than one tenth of a second, causing multiple deep wounds.
Boat propeller injuries, if not fatal, are usually severe and disfiguring, resulting in prolonged disability and permanent impairment.
Propeller injuries are preventable. Boat Nut Magazine have launched the Take care - Be prop aware campaign to increase public awareness about the dangers of prop strikes.
Being ‘prop-aware’ is particularly important for people involved in tow sports like water-skiing and wakeboarding, and any time powerboats are used near swimmers or children, such as sailing schools and surf clubs. Being ‘prop-aware’ is also important for people diving or snorkelling out of a vessel, and for boat drivers operating in areas where divers, snorkellers or spearfishers may be present.
It is also important to pass the message on to less experienced people who rent powerboats such as aluminum fishing boats and houseboats.
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