Boating is not only fun but also good for your mind and health. Like any new experience for a boater, the first time they cast off their lines can be a little nerve-wracking. We’re here to assist you, new boater.
Here are some tips to make your first boating experience a safe and enjoyable one.
1. Keep it Safe
Didn’t you know that it was going to happen? It’s true that boating is a low-risk sport, but the fun can be cut short if you get hurt. Before you push off the dock, take the boating course and read our Guide to Boating Safety.
2. Choose the Activities You Want To Try
Prepare yourself for some serious fun. Prepare yourself by checking out 10 Fun Activities to Do on a Yacht and deciding which activities will be enjoyed by the entire family. Call a family gathering and discuss the possibilities around the dinner table.
Make a list of all the boating equipment that you might need. This will help you be prepared for the wave-hopping, tube-towing and/or fish-catching adventures ahead.
3. Check the weather
Choose your weather with care. Mother Nature can have a major impact on boating, even though we would all love to do it every day. It’s best to wait until there is a better opportunity if a strong wind or thunderstorms are forecast.
You can learn more about what makes for good boating weather by reading Weather Safety for Boaters.
4. Walk before you run
Start off with a short trip that doesn’t go too far. It’s not necessary to begin with a camping trip or a long distance cruise. It is best to start with shorter trips that will help you gain confidence before embarking on a longer trip.
You will quickly learn what gear and provisions to have on hand and how to react to various situations on the water. You will also discover how long your crew can enjoy different activities before it’s time to change pace. This is especially important for parents with children.
5. All Should Wear Life Jackets!
Choose life jackets that you find comfortable and not the cheapest. This is especially important if you are traveling with children. A life jacket that is ill-fitting, or poorly designed will become less comfortable over time. There are so many options and types available today that you can find one for any age or size. You wonder how to choose the best life jacket.
6. Use a pre-departure checklist to plan ahead
Plan for extra time before and after your trip. You don’t want a rush when you are trying something new. Allow some time to set up the gear, prepare the boat for launch and to go through your checklist before departure. You’ll need to give yourself extra time to secure the boat at the dock, clean it, and wash it. Remember this when you’re deciding when to begin and end your trip. This will help you avoid feeling rushed.
7. Slow down for the Waves
It may seem a little simplistic, but after jumping over a few smaller waves, many new boaters will leave the throttle wide open to accommodate larger and bigger ones, until they finally hit one that is so large that it hurts. Wave impacts can be more painful for passengers than for captains, as the latter is likely to have seen the wave and been prepared for it. If you are driving the boat, and you feel it thump or bang, others may have also felt this.
8. Find out how to adjust the trim
If your boat is running well, you may not need to trim it. It may be that the boat is running fine. You’ll find that, by adjusting the trim, it will almost always run better. Trimming can change the way the hull interacts with the waves. It can also affect speed, maneuverability and comfort.
9. The whole crew can be involved
Give crew members and kids jobs. Boating is a great way to foster teamwork, especially with your family. This can only happen when everyone on board is given the chance to help. You can get even the youngest crew member to participate by giving them a simple job, such as helping you look for flotsam while you cruise. You can get everyone involved in many ways. See A crew of kids: Family Teamwork to see more ideas.
10. Enjoy Yourself and Don’t forget to Wave!
Enjoy yourself and remember to wave at your fellow boaters. You’ve joined a whole new family, the boating family. All boaters share a passion for the water. We all wave at each other when we see a boat on the water. This is part of Boating Etiquette and the lifestyle. It’s also why we have so much fun on the water. Prepare yourself to have a great time!
