![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/07\/Summer24_3U9A9013-crop-1024x682.jpeg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
BOATsmart!’s Top 10 Boating Safety Tips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nBOATsmart!\u00ae<\/sup> Canada wants everyone to remember the following boater safety tips \u2013 every time you hit the water.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. Wear a Properly Fitted Lifejacket or PFD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are several different styles of PFDs and life jackets, but not all of them are ideal for every water activity. It’s also crucial to make sure lifejackets fit properly<\/a> so they can function correctly if someone ends up in the water unexpectedly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Don\u2019t Drink and Boat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Alcohol and boating don\u2019t mix! We want to remind you to \u201cLeave the beer on the pier and the water on the water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Have a Co-Captain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make sure there is someone else on board who is familiar with the boat and has their Pleasure Craft Operator Card<\/a> (PCOC), commonly known as a boating license or boat card, who can safely operate the boat if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Check The Weather Network Marine Forecast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Understanding weather and water conditions<\/a> is important to safe boating. Know what is in the forecast so you\u2019re not stuck in poor boating conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n5. Check Your Required Safety Equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make sure you have the required boating safety equipment for your boat. You’ll also want to check it and confirm that it is in good working order and that your flashlight has working batteries!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Fill Out a Trip Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let a responsible person know where you will be boating, when you are expecting to arrive home, and who else is on board. Create a Float Plan and leave it with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Complete a Pre-Departure Checklist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Complete a Pre-Departure Checklist so you can ensure that you\u2019re well prepared for your boating trip. This checklist helps you make sure the boat is in good working order and that you have everything you need on board for a safe day on the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
8. Know Your Waterway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Safe boating is more than just knowing how to safely operate your boat and having your required safety equipment. You also need to understand local hazards. Refer to marine charts for the waterways where you\u2019ll be operating, locate local hazards, and learn about preferred navigation channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9. Review your BOATsmart!\u00ae<\/sup> Study Guide<\/h3>\n\n\n\nEven though you may already have your Pleasure Craft Operator Card, commonly known as a boater license, it\u2019s a good idea to review the safe boating modules each season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10. Get your Pleasure Craft Operator Card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Commonly known as a boating license, from a Transport Canada accredited provider like BOATsmart!\u00ae<\/sup> Canada, make sure you have this before launching. By learning the required safe boating knowledge to pass the boating license exam, you\u2019ll be confident when boating with your friends and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Apply These Tips Every Time You Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
We want you (and others on the water) to stay safe every time you head out for a relaxing day or an adventure. Apply these tips when boating \u2013 but remember, these tips are only the “tip” of what you need to know to boat safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For boaters in Canada, let our Canada-approved course<\/a> guide you through the essentials. We can also help you get your PCOC. In the U.S, choose the course for your state<\/a>, start learning, and protect yourself and others on the water this season. All courses are online, engaging, and simple to complete! <\/p>\n\n\n\nOriginally published October 2011. Content reviewed, updated, and republished July 11, 2024. <\/em>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":126912,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[680],"tags":[662],"yoast_head":"\nThe Top 10 Boating Safety Tips | BOATsmart! Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Check out our top 10 baoting safety tips to ensuree a safee and enjoyablee boating trip. Includes safety equipment tips, and checklists.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/top-10-boating-safety-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Top 10 Boating Safety Tips | BOATsmart! Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Check out our top 10 baoting safety tips to ensuree a safee and enjoyablee boating trip. Includes safety equipment tips, and checklists.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/top-10-boating-safety-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BOATsmart! Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-05-17T16:49:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-07-12T20:23:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2011\/10\/KE_Boat_FL_2024-434-crop.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1282\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"BOATsmart! Blog\",\"description\":\"Your destination for boating resources and stories to keep you safe and informed on the waterways.\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\",\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/top-10-boating-safety-tips\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2011\/10\/KE_Boat_FL_2024-434-crop.jpeg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1282},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/top-10-boating-safety-tips\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/top-10-boating-safety-tips\/\",\"name\":\"The Top 10 Boating Safety Tips | BOATsmart! Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/top-10-boating-safety-tips\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-05-17T16:49:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-07-12T20:23:07+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d60b0dad723d76b31282be0a7adc65be\"},\"description\":\"Check out our top 10 baoting safety tips to ensuree a safee and enjoyablee boating trip. Includes safety equipment tips, and checklists.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/top-10-boating-safety-tips\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"Person\"],\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/d60b0dad723d76b31282be0a7adc65be\",\"name\":\"BOATsmart!\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=122"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126914,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122\/revisions\/126914"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=122"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=122"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=122"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Wear a Properly Fitted Lifejacket or PFD<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
There are several different styles of PFDs and life jackets, but not all of them are ideal for every water activity. It’s also crucial to make sure lifejackets fit properly<\/a> so they can function correctly if someone ends up in the water unexpectedly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alcohol and boating don\u2019t mix! We want to remind you to \u201cLeave the beer on the pier and the water on the water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure there is someone else on board who is familiar with the boat and has their Pleasure Craft Operator Card<\/a> (PCOC), commonly known as a boating license or boat card, who can safely operate the boat if needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Understanding weather and water conditions<\/a> is important to safe boating. Know what is in the forecast so you\u2019re not stuck in poor boating conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make sure you have the required boating safety equipment for your boat. You’ll also want to check it and confirm that it is in good working order and that your flashlight has working batteries!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let a responsible person know where you will be boating, when you are expecting to arrive home, and who else is on board. Create a Float Plan and leave it with them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Complete a Pre-Departure Checklist so you can ensure that you\u2019re well prepared for your boating trip. This checklist helps you make sure the boat is in good working order and that you have everything you need on board for a safe day on the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Safe boating is more than just knowing how to safely operate your boat and having your required safety equipment. You also need to understand local hazards. Refer to marine charts for the waterways where you\u2019ll be operating, locate local hazards, and learn about preferred navigation channels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though you may already have your Pleasure Craft Operator Card, commonly known as a boater license, it\u2019s a good idea to review the safe boating modules each season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Commonly known as a boating license, from a Transport Canada accredited provider like BOATsmart!\u00ae<\/sup> Canada, make sure you have this before launching. By learning the required safe boating knowledge to pass the boating license exam, you\u2019ll be confident when boating with your friends and family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n We want you (and others on the water) to stay safe every time you head out for a relaxing day or an adventure. Apply these tips when boating \u2013 but remember, these tips are only the “tip” of what you need to know to boat safely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For boaters in Canada, let our Canada-approved course<\/a> guide you through the essentials. We can also help you get your PCOC. In the U.S, choose the course for your state<\/a>, start learning, and protect yourself and others on the water this season. All courses are online, engaging, and simple to complete! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Originally published October 2011. Content reviewed, updated, and republished July 11, 2024. <\/em>2. Don\u2019t Drink and Boat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Have a Co-Captain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Check The Weather Network Marine Forecast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5. Check Your Required Safety Equipment<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
6. Fill Out a Trip Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
7. Complete a Pre-Departure Checklist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
8. Know Your Waterway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
9. Review your BOATsmart!\u00ae<\/sup> Study Guide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10. Get your Pleasure Craft Operator Card<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Apply These Tips Every Time You Launch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":126912,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[680],"tags":[662],"yoast_head":"\n