Stay Afloat
You've heard it before: Life jackets save lives. According to Coast Guard studies, 90 percent of drowning victims were not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD). Of the remaining 10 percent, many were wearing a model that wasn't designed to keep the head out of the water after the wearer lost consciousness.Stay Alert
It's a sad fact that 17 percent of all recreational boating fatalities are the direct result of drunk boating, or BUI (boating under the influence)."It's not illegal to drink in boats. The problem is, people often don't know when to stop," says Jennings, whose office has seen accidents in which drunk boaters plowed into bridges, jetties, as well as other boats. "Very rarely is a stone-sober mariner involved in a serious boating accident."In most places, boat operators can be cited if their blood-alcohol content is above .08, though punishments for BUI offenses remain less stringent than forStay in Touch
Cellphone coverage is often spotty; phones can get wet, and batteries can die. A modern VHF marine radio, on the other hand, is a near guarantee that you'll be able to communicate with rescuers and guide them to your exact location in the event of an accident. (A good marine radio runs about $100, provides frequent weather updates and can be connected to your boat's GPS for even greater geographic accuracy.) All marine radios sold after June 1999 have a built-in feature called DSC, or digital selective calling, a button that sends an automatic mayday call with your vessel's name and location. The trick is that your radio must be properly registered, a step that many mariners neglect. Check out this site for a guide to setting up your radioRead more: Boating Safety Tips - Summer Boat Safety Accidents - Popular Mechanics
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