Safety Rules for Boating
Boating safety requires a proactive effort. The rules for boating safety include rules for navigation, rules for equipment and rules for rules about unsafe practices, including boating while drunk and speeding. Almost all of the rules are incorporated into State and Federal law.
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Act as If Your Life Depends on It
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Boating safety rules are based on many years of experience and practice. Boating is a pleasant recreational activity; however, you should never forget that the water, be it ever so much fun, can kill you--which may be the most important safety rule about boats.
Wear Your Life Vest
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It's bulky, it's restrictive and it's unattractive. But if your boat turns over or if you simply fall over the side, your life vest will save you because it floats. This is especially important for small children, whose swimming skills may not yet equal their capacity for panic.
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Know the Rules
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The navigation rules for boats are much the same as those for cars: the boat approaching from the right has the right of way. The boat that you plan to pass needs to know what your plans are--and does not need to be rocked by your wake. Sailboats have the right of way, period. Keep right when meeting an oncoming boat.
Know Your Boat's Handling Characteristics
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Know your boat's stopping distance under varying conditions, how fast it accelerates and how much space it needs to make a turn. Know how to use the engine and steering controls to accomplish maneuvers like docking: most boat-to-boat collisions happen at marina fuel docks.
Courtesy and Safety Go Hand-In-Hand
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The saying that a safe boater is a courteous boater has been around since Moses was a midshipman. It's still the truth, since so much of boating courtesy is based on safety practices that have been around for more than a few hundred years.
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