Boating is a fantastic way to spend time with family and friends and enjoy the fresh air. However, we all know that conditions can change, and things can happen, so it is important to be prepared and carry all of the required equipment. The Sea Tow Foundation has put together a list of the 10 Essentials for Boating to make sure you have everything you need (plus everything required to take) before heading out for a day or weekend on the water. And, these would be great gift ideas for the boaters in your life! We've provided some links to help you purchase our favorite items*!

1. Life Jackets – The Coast Guard requires that a properly fitted life jacket be on board for each person in the boating group plus a throwable device like a ring buoy or floating cushion. While the universal-size life jackets that came with your boat will meet the requirements for adults, they won’t fit children, so you’ll need to have other life jackets for them. And it’s also a good idea to invest in some better life jackets for the adults that are comfortable and will provide better buoyancy like an inflatable life jacket. And, make sure that throwable device has some rope tied to it so you can bring someone back onto the boat! Don't forget that the Sea Tow Foundation’s nationwide life jacket loaner program has over 1,300 stations where you can easily borrow a vest-style life jacket if you invite any last minute guests on board and need a life jacket for them.
   
   
2. Fire Extinguishers – If your boat has an engine, you are required to have a fire extinguisher on board. It also needs to be rated for marine use. Even a personal watercraft needs to have a fire extinguisher on board. 
   
   
3. Signaling Gear – If you need to get help to your position or notify someone of a problem, you’ll need to carry signaling gear. For non-powered boats on inland lakes and rivers, a mirror is usually sufficient, but if you are on a power boat or are going into the Great Lakes or Coastal waters, then you're required to carry traditional flares or an E-Flare. For more information about the different types of flares, check out our page devoted to Flare Education.
   
   
4. Lights – Boats are required to have Navigation Lights (red, green and white) to help other boats see you on the water and know which direction you are moving. If you are in a non-powered boat, even if you don’t plan to be on the water after dark, it is a good idea to carry a water-proof flashlight on board. As the days get shorter in the fall and spring, the nighttime often sneaks up on you and it is good to know that a flashlight can help you with finding the boat ramp and it also alerts other boats to your position so that they can avoid you.
   
   
5. Anchor and Extra Line – Being able to stop your boat from moving is important if the battery or engine fails so that you don’t drift into a boating channel or into dangerous waters. That's why carrying an anchor is required. The anchor should be strong enough for the type and size of boat that you’re using and rated for the bottom type that is found in that area whether that is mud, sand, clay, grass, or rocks.
   
   
6. Safety Kit – This is one of the items that it's required for legal purposes, but you should still take the time to put together a boating safety kit that includes a first aid kit complete with bandages, gauze, tape, alcohol wipes, anti-nausea medicine, gloves, tweezers, and cold compresses. If anyone in your boating group has a medical condition like Diabetes, it is a good idea to include glucose tablets or tubes of icing to assist with low blood sugar. Adding a Multi-Tool and duct tape to any safety kit are good ideas as they both can be used in multiple ways whether that is patching up the boat or a wound.
   
   
7. Sound Signal Device – Depending on the type of boat you’re using, helps determine the type of signaling device youre required to carry. A canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard should have a whistle attached to every life jacket and it isn’t a bad idea to add whistles to the life jackets on every type of boat, too. Any boat less than 39.4 feet in length must have some device that can produce a sound, so powerboats often have a horn on board to meet this requirement. Boats that are larger need to make sure that the device can be heard for a half mile with a 4-6 second duration.
   
   
8. Communications Device – Getting in touch with a friend or family member to let them know that you’ll be late for dinner is important, but being able to get help in an emergency is critical. You can’t always rely on a cell phone to work, even on an inland lake or river, so it is a good idea to carry a VHF radio or a satellite communication device like a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or a Garmin InReach.
   
   
9. License, Registration, and Nautical Chart – All boat operators are required to carry their boat’s registration paperwork as well as a copy of their boating license and/or driver’s license. It’s also a good idea to have a paper chart of your waterway just in case the electronics don’t work for some reason. And, keeping all of these in a waterproof pouch is a smart idea so that they stay dry at all times.
   
   
10. Food and Water – The last item isn't required, but is always a good idea for any trip out on the water. Plan to pack enough food and drinks for everyone on board for at least double the amount of time that you plan to be on the water. If you are packing for an afternoon boat ride that will last 4 hours, make sure to have enough food and water that you can be comfortable for at least 8 hours. That way, if you are delayed in returning to the boat dock for whatever reason, you and your boating group will not feel as hungry and thirsty as they otherwise would.

Bonus item: Having a Sea Tow Membership is always a smart idea so that you and your boat will be taken care of because members always get priority service. And this mans that you can get back to enjoying your day on the water even faster.

*The Sea Tow Foundation may receive compensation as an affiliate of Amazon for purchases made with these links.

August is Summer Sun Safety Month, which means now is the perfect time for a boating safety refresher! When you think of boating safety, you probably only think of what’s required on boats, like life jackets or flares. What most people don’t know is that boaters should always be prepared just in case of a worst case scenario.

In this blog post, we’re going to go beyond the boating safety basics and cover water safety equipment that you may not think of, but are essential to have on every boat.

Proper Life Jacket Quantity, Sizes & Type
Federal law requires that everyone under the age of 13 wear a life jacket on board and that there should be one life jacket on board for each person above that age. While these requirements are standard and in place, boaters should take it a step further and ensure that they have the right type of life jacket for their boating or water activities. For instance, vest style or inflatable life jackets work just fine for sitting in a flat water canoe, fishing in a jon boat or hanging out with your family in a pontoon boat. But, for an activity that involves higher speed or the chance of hitting the water (like riding a PWC, whitewater kayaking, or wakeboarding ), a vest-style life jacket rated for this type of activity is needed. In many cases, it may even be required to be worn while doing these activities regardless of your age.  It’s also important to consider investing in high-quality life jackets that often provide improved visibility, extra comfort, more durability and added safety features, all of which increase your chance of survival in emergencies. They also offer greater versatility and specialized functionalities, making them a worthwhile investment for anyone seeking optimal protection on the water.

Extra Safety Materials
A true captain is prepared for any scenario. Having e-flares, an anchor, extra line and life rafts on the boat could prevent injuries or speed rescuers to your location in the case of an emergency.

First-Aid Kit
Many think that this is a given on any boat, but a first-aid kit is critical. When building your own first-aid kit, make sure to start with the basics, like adhesive bandages, antiseptic materials, cold packs and scissors. Adding boating specific items like aloe for sunburns, antihistamines for bug bites, and keeping everything in a water-proof bag will make sure that if you ever happen to need one of these items, you’ll be so grateful that your first-aid kit is fully stocked and ready to go!  

Cell Phones and VHF Radios
While on board, it’s important to have audible and clear communication with other boaters. Your cell phone won’t work if you go off-shore and may not even work close to shore depending on locations of cell towers, so always make sure to carry a VHF Radio on board. Before leaving the dock, ensure your cell phone and VHF radio are charged so you can stay aware of any water emergencies or incoming weather alerts.

Extra Food & Drinking Water
You never know when your half day boat trip ends up turning into a 10-12 hour trip. It could be as simple as wanting to stay out longer while the fish are biting or you could have engine trouble and are waiting for assistance to arrive on a busy holiday weekend. This is why it’s important to pack extra drinking water and food – proper hydration and nourishment are important to stay aware and alert on board. It’s also important to think about what you would need if the weather suddenly got colder or it started to storm.  Extra clothing, layers and blankets could help keep you warm on the boat so that a mechanical issue doesn’t turn into a medical issue, too.

Sea Tow Membership
It’s always better to be safe than sorry, which is exactly why you should also get a Sea Tow Membership. With Sea Tow, you have access to 24/7 priority on-water assistance services for every boat you own or rent. You’ll receive the most comprehensive member benefits available, and have peace of mind knowing that help is there should you ever need it.

Keep in mind that your destination, the operational characteristics of your boat and the number of people on board should influence the type of safety equipment you carry on board. The proper safety equipment ensures comfort and safety for everyone, and it’s always best to play it safe and think beyond the basics when packing safety equipment for your boat!

4 Spring Boating Safety Tips from a Sea Tow Captain

With boating season upon us, it’s important to review safety standards before your maiden voyage of the year. The Sea Tow Foundation sat down with Capt. Mike DeGenaro of Sea Tow Charlotte Harbor to learn some tips to help prepare boaters for the water this spring.

“As spring fever sets in, we have a lot of boaters heading out on the water. For some, it’s been over a year since their last cruise and others have been boating on lakes and smaller bodies of water out of state,” said Capt. Mike. “It’s important to make sure that they know a few safety tips to guarantee they have a much better boating experience, no matter where they splash.”

1. Always check the weather before heading out on the water. With the touch of a button, a marine forecast can be read on a smartphone. It’s important to realize the weather can easily change in a short amount of time. “This is even more serious when you’re in a small boat,” Capt. Mike cautioned. “Small boats are easily tossed around in wind and waves and can be easily swamped. When checking the forecast, look to see if a wind or small craft advisory is posted for the afternoon and plan your boating trip accordingly.”

2. Have a way to call for help. “Cell phones may work well on land but should not be relied on out on the water where signals can be weak or non-existent,” Capt. Mike said. “VHF radios are the best option for a boater to call for help because they work even after getting wet and rescuers can put out a call to other boaters in your area to get you help even faster.”

3. Know the area where you are boating and know how to communicate your location. “Telling a rescuer that you can see the blinking lights of a radio tower doesn’t help them find you when there are several identical towers in the same area that can all be seen for miles in any direction,” Capt. Mike noted. “What does help is knowing which boat ramp you left from, where you were heading and which marina you recently passed. This information will help rescuers find you.” A bonus is knowing how to read your instruments to give your exact latitude and longitude. This gives a precise location to rescuers and will save a lot of time, especially in a medical emergency.

4. Always carry a life jacket, an anchor and signal lights. Even if you don’t plan to be boating after dark, you always need to be prepared with lights and signals and your life jacket should be on as soon as you notice trouble. “Don’t let your boat drift into shallow water or be pulled out to sea by the tide,” said Capt. Mike. “Put on your life jacket, set your anchor down and use your lights to signal for help so that rescuers can find you.”

Boaters uses the Sea Tow app to determine their position.

With a few simple precautions, you can enjoy a wonderful day of boating. Knowing you have a local Sea Tow Captain standing-by also gives you added Peace of Mind on the Water ™. Following these four tips and knowing basic boating safety will ensure a proper reaction in the event a situation that requires a call for help arises.

Tow Bee Safety Tip: Check Weather Forecast Before Each Outing!

A beautiful morning on the water can quickly turn into a windy, stormy afternoon. This is why it is important to check the weather forecast before you head out on the water. You can check the marine forecast for your area as well as access the Weather Channel on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Marine Forecasts page.

It is also important to continue checking the weather while you are out on the water. You should keep an eye out for changes in wind direction and/or wind speed. And you can also watch for the buildup of dark clouds, especially in the western sky..

If you have a VHF radio, you can tune to the weather channel frequency. Broadcasts of local and coastal marine forecasts run on a continuous cycle from the National Weather Service. Tidal information and real time observations from buoys are also included.

.

For additional boating safety tips throughout the various seasons, check out our blog posts linked below:

Fall

Winter

Spring  

Summer 

Hurricane Season   

Click here for more Tow Bee Boating Safety Tips