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.

What Paperwork Do You Need on Your Boat and How Do You Keep it Dry?

Whether you are out on your boat to relax, fish, or have dinner with your family, an evening on the boat is a time to enjoy. The lights reflecting on the water, the cool breeze in your hair, and a state official kindly requesting to see your documentation. OK ... perhaps the latter experience would not be a special addition to your evening, but it can quickly sink your plans if you don’t have the proper paperwork stored alongside your swimsuits and towels. Unlike these items, you also need your documents to be dry.

To avoid having your long-anticipated boating adventures interrupted by paperwork problems, Sea Tow Foundation has prepared a list of documents to keep on your boat and also provides some tips on how to store them safely.

What documents do you need?

• License. Just like anyone driving a car, a captain must have his or her identification, which is usually in the form of a driver’s license, on board at all times. If you get caught without it, your perfect night on the water might be punctuated with a fine.
• Boat Documentation. The law requires you to have either a state registration or United States Coast Guard federal documentation for your boat. Every state has a slightly nuanced registration requirement, so be sure to check out the USA Boat Registration to see what your state requires before you head out on the water.
• Recreational Licenses and Safety Certificates. Some states require boaters to carry proof of completing a boating safety course. Each state is different, so you might need the certificate on a personal watercraft, but not on a pontoon boat; or you might need it for all boats if you were born on or after a certain date. Check your state’s boating education requirements before you launch your boat. If you are out fishing, or hunting, keeping track of your fishing and hunting licenses will be important as well.
• Boat Insurance. Different boats call for different types of boating insurance. Keeping the proof of that insurance on your boat will ensure you are prepared for any unexpected incidents on the water. If you carry additional coverages for your trailer or other equipment, make sure to carry those cards as well.
• On-Water Assistance. If you have a membership with Sea Tow for marine assistance, you will want to carry your wallet-size card, or you can access your membership through your phone via the Sea Tow app. Either way, knowing that you can reach someone for help 24/7/365 will give you true peace of mind on the water.
• Health Insurance and Medical History. Consider keeping a copy of your personal medical information on your boat as well as a list of medications that you take or any allergies that you have in case of emergencies. You may also want to do the same for any frequent passengers.

How do you keep them dry?

• Dry Box. Several waterproof storage containers are available to keep your documents dry and safe. Dry boxes come in every shape, size, and color. One of our favorites is called the SeaSucker Dry Box and some of their boxes have accessories like horizontal mounts, cup holders, and padding.*
• Dry Bag. This is a specially-made waterproof bag that is a great and portable way to keep anything from getting wet. Dry bags are also available in a variety of sizes and colors to suit your needs. Ugo offers a 100% waterproof dry bag and a smartphone case that even floats.*
• Storage Zipper Bag. This should be the option of last resort as these bags can be easily ripped or get a hole in them. If this is the only option available to you on your boat, consider using multiple bags with each one sealed inside of another. Otherwise, these bags can provide a great additional level of coverage for frequently-referenced documentation being stored in a larger dry box or dry bag. This allows you to reach in and take out the document your need without getting it wet or disturbing anything else.

*Sea Tow members can get a discount on both SeaSucker Dry Boxes and Ugo Dry Bags as part of the Sea Tow Savings Club. You’ll need to be logged in as a member to receive the discounts.

Keeping your documents safe and dry on the water is important, and there are so many ways to ensure that this happens. What do you use to hold your documents safely on your vessel?

If you found this article helpful or entertaining, please consider a donation to the Sea Tow Foundation today to help us continue our efforts to educate boaters and keep them safe on the water. You can donate securely online at www.boatingsafety.com/donatetoday or by clicking on the DONATE tab at the top of the page.

Paper Boat Photo by Janis Fasel on Unsplash

Winter is a Great Time to Take a Boating Safety Course

As the days get colder, it seems like the summer will never get here. Although your boat and gear may be stored away safely for the winter, you shouldn’t let your skills and knowledge get put away, too. Many states make changes to boating laws and regulations over the winter months, so it is good to get a refresher now that the New Year is here. A boating safety course will make sure that you know everything you can about being a safe boater including the legal requirements before inviting friends and family out on your boat in a few months when it warms up again.

You can find classroom courses that are offered locally in your area in the evenings or on weekends or you can take a class online from your home or office.  Courses are offered by state boating agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, America’s Boating Club and many companies and organizations, just make sure that the course meets the requirements for certification or to get a license in your state. The interactive, online course offered by our friends at iLearntoBoat.com meets the legal requirements in many states with many more being added daily. Regardless of how the course is presented, the test will include questions on life jackets, fire safety, anchoring procedures, the Navigation Rules, emergency situations, and state-specific information that boaters should know to be safe on the water in their state. If you boat in multiple states, it may be good to take a course in each of those states to be certified and up to speed on the rules in each state.

As an added incentive to get this training, boating insurance companies frequently offer discounts to boaters who successfully complete an approved boating safety course. Check with your insurance company for a list of courses or you can visit the U.S. Coast Guard’s website to find a list of approved courses that will allow you to get your boating certificate or boating license.