Recently I’ve started looking at boats. Once I have my cottage built I will want to have a boat to do some fishing and touring around the lake. My lake is part of the Trent Severn waterway which makes it a high traffic area for boaters going up and down stream. Since I’ve never owned a boat I thought it would be a good idea to get some boating safety tips so that I know what I should be doing when I get on the water.
Here are some boating tips from www.boatsmartcanada.com
Proof of Competency
All operators of vessels fitted with a motor and less than four metres in length (including personal watercraft) are required to have an Operator Competency Card. It is recommended that all boaters take an accredited boating safety course.
Wear a Flotation Device
Every year more than 600 lives are lost due to drowning. 70 per cent of boaters who drowned were not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket.
Don’t Drink and Drive
All the same reasons for not drinking and driving apply to drinking and boating. At least 40 per cent of all power-boating fatality victims had a blood alcohol level above the legal driving limit.
Take the Boat Sober Quiz http://www.boatsmartcanada.com/article.asp?id=002556&tid=014
Respect Others on the Lake
If you jump waves or come unreasonably close to other vessels, disturb the peace, speed near swimmers, play chicken or weave through congested traffic at high speed, you risk receiving a hefty fine and possibly ending up in front of a judge.
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