Before you even consider using your brand new vessel out for a cruise on the sea it is in your own best interest to take a boat safety class and have a boat safety review to check for the required safety equipment. The US Coast Guard can provide you with a list of required and proposed boat safety devices.
Life jackets, or personal drifting tools as they are formally called, should be promptly available for every occupant of the vessel. They must also be conformed to the built of the person who is intended to use them in case of an emergency. They should be in good working order with all the straps and clips in place and usable. It is a good recommendation to have them fitted to the passengers so that if required they can be put on without much further adjusting. In a number of states there is a minimum age for which the wear of a life vest is required every time.
As a large part of boating safety there must also be present on board a recently inspected fire extinguisher. It should be clearly labelled so that anyone can see it if necessary and get to it in time. There are varied kinds of fire extinguishers, created to put out different types of fires. For boating safety it is suggested to get a Type B or C fire extinguisher, these are designed for putting out fires initiated or fuelled by oil, grease and gas, or electrical fires.
As a final part of boating safety, particularly for vessels with gasoline engines and particularly if the engine is mounted in the vessel, good ventilation is cardinal.
Not only to keep away from any development of carbon monoxide, endangering the crew with toxic conditions, but also to prevent gasoline smoke from building up and becoming a dangerous fire hazard.
Jason Myers is a professional writer and he writes mostly about boating news. He’s also interested in travel and tourism news.