How to Prove Your Boat Can Float

This boat owner has proven that his boat can float.

It is extremely important that the owner of the boat is able to prove that it can float. If the boat does not float, property damage, personal injury or death could result. Safety and common sense dictate that the flotation of the boat be proved while the boat is moored at a dock after launching, not while the boat is out in the middle of a lake. Proving that your boat can float is relatively simple, but does rely on your team powers of observation.

Things You'll Need

• None

Instructions

1. Inspect the boat prior to launching. Look for any hull cracks or damage that could allow water into the boat. Insert the transom plug.

2. Launch the boat, following both the boat and trailer manufacturers' instructions in their respective owner's manuals.

3. Inspect the inside of the hull after launching the boat. Search for any water that may be leaking into the boat. Pay careful attention to the bilge area, as this is where water will collect if the boat is leaking.

4. Observe the boat to ensure that it is not sinking. If the boat is not sinking, you have proved that your boat can float.

Tips & Warnings

• The observation process may take longer on wooden boats. The planks on wooden boat hulls must swell in order to seal the boat. This process can take hours, depending on how long the wooden boat has been out of the water.

References

• Sea Ray: Sport Boat Owner's Manual
• Kapsi Internet: Why Do Wooden Boats Leak?