6 Tips for Boaters Watching Holiday Boat Parades from the Water

1. Designate a Sober Skipper to stay at the helm all evening and be responsible for returning the boat and its passengers to shore after the parade is over. The skipper will stay sober all evening to keep everyone safe on the water. To take the pledge to be the Sober Skipper visit www.soberskipper.com.
2. Watch your Weight. Don’t overload the boat with passengers. The number of seats available on board is not always the best indicator of capacity. Look for the boat’s capacity plate on the transom or by the helm or look up the passenger capacity in the boat’s manual. It is also important that decorations do not obstruct the skipper’s blind spots and that any decorations used don’t add additional weight to the boat that would require a person or two to disembark.
3. Don’t forget your life jackets! Make sure everyone onboard the boat is wearing warm clothes topped by either a traditional or an inflatable life jacket that fits. Navigating at night in a crowd of other vessels can be just as dangerous as boating in stormy weather or in fog.
4. Things look different at night. Remember that in the dark, visual navigation markers you rely on during the day may be invisible. Chart your route to the on-water parade-viewing zone in advance and use GPS-enabled electronics to help you find your way, if necessary.
5. Relax and Enjoy the Show. Don't be in a rush to get home; let some of the boat traffic clear out before you raise anchor after the parade is over.
6. Listen Up! Obey U.S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary designated zones and follow their orders – they are only out on the water to protect you. In case of a non-emergency, hail “Sea Tow, Sea Tow, Sea Tow” on VHF channel 16; call 800-4-SEATOW; or use the Sea Tow mobile app.

*Bonus tip: If you are decorating your boat, ensure that power cords are safe to be around water to reduce the risk of fire and electrical shock. Make sure connections are wrapped with electrical tape and that there are no frayed ends or loose bulbs.

Tell us in the comments where you are attending boat parades and feel free to share photos on our Facebook page @SeaTowFoundation.

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