Boat Insurance | Boizelle Insurance Partnership

How to Prepare Your Boat for Summer

Preparing your boat for the summer and following proper safety guidelines are essential for a smooth and safe boating season. By following these tips, you’ll be on your way to having a fun, relaxing, enjoyable summer with the ones you love!

Prepare Your Boat for Summer

1. Inspect the Hull and Propeller:

• Look for cracks, blisters, or damage.
• Check the propeller for dings or distortion and ensure it’s securely attached.

 

2. Clean and Paint:

• Clean the hull thoroughly.
• Apply antifouling paint if you’ll be in saltwater or leaving it in the water long-term.

 

3. Check the Engine:

• Change the oil and replace filters.
• Check and replace the fuel, air, and oil filters if needed.
• Inspect belts, cables, and hoses for wear.

 

4. Fuel System:

• Inspect for leaks or brittle fuel lines.
• Fill the tank with fresh fuel and add a stabilizer.

 

5. Battery Check:

• Fully charge the battery and clean terminals.
• Test the voltage and replace it if it won’t hold a charge.

 

6. Cooling System:

• Flush and refill with fresh coolant if applicable.
• Check water pumps and impellers.

 

7. Safety Gear Inventory:

• Ensure you have enough life jackets and they’re in good condition.
• Test fire extinguishers and replace if expired.
• Check flares and signaling devices for expiration.

 

8. Electronics and Lights:

• Test navigation and interior lights.
• Ensure GPS, depth finder, radio, and other electronics work properly.

 

9. Inspect the Trailer:

• Check tires, bearings, brakes, and lights.
• Make sure the winch and straps are functioning.

 

Boat Safety Tips

1. Wear Life Jackets:

• Always wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket—especially kids and non-swimmers.

 

2. Check the Weather:

• Avoid going out in rough or unpredictable weather.

 

 

3. Tell Someone Your Plan:

• Share your float plan (where you’re going and when you’ll be back) with a friend or marina.

 

4. Avoid Alcohol:

• Don’t drive the boat under the influence—boating under the influence (BUI) is illegal and dangerous.

 

5. Know Navigation Rules:

• Understand right-of-way, channel markers, and local boating laws.

 

6. Emergency Equipment:

• Carry a first aid kit, whistle, mirror, flashlight, and basic tools.

 

7. Fire Safety:

• Keep fire extinguishers readily accessible and regularly inspected.

 

8. Carbon Monoxide Awareness:

• Don’t idle in enclosed spaces; install CO detectors if possible.

 

9. Anchoring Practice:

• Know how to properly set and retrieve an anchor.

 

10. Take a Boating Safety Course:

• Many are offered online or locally and may even reduce insurance rates.

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Boating Safety Tips

Wear a life jacket: Make sure everyone on board wears a properly fitted life jacket. In case of an emergency, it can save lives.

Check the weather forecast: Before heading out, check the weather forecast. Avoid going in stormy or rough weather conditions.

Inspect your boat: Regularly inspect your boat for any signs of damage or wear. Ensure that all safety equipment, such as navigation lights, horns and fire extinguishers, are in good working condition.

File a float plan: Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to return. Provide them with a detailed itinerary, including your route and expected return time.

Stay alert and sober: Avoid alcohol and drugs while operating a boat. Stay focused on your surroundings and be aware of other boaters, swimmers, and obstacles in the water.

Follow navigation rules: Familiarize yourself with navigation rules and regulations for the area where you’ll be boating. Pay attention to markers and buoys, and know the right of way.

Use proper lighting: Make sure your boat has the required navigation lights for nighttime boating. Always carry a flashlight with extra batteries onboard.

Keep a safe distance: Maintain a safe distance from other boats, swimmers, and fixed objects like docks and buoys.

Learn basic first aid: Be prepared for emergencies by knowing basic first aid techniques and having a well-stocked first aid kit onboard.

Educate yourself: Take a boating safety course to learn about boating laws, regulations, and best practices. Continuous education can help you become a safer and more responsible boater.

Remember, safety should always be a top priority when enjoying time on the water.

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Must-Know Tips for Boating Safety

The weather’s finally getting warmer and it’s time to enjoy your time out on the water with friends and family. Regardless of whether you’re a seasoned boating expert or a newbie, it’s a good idea to freshen up on boating safety, so that you and those you care about most can have a fun, memorable experience out on the water.

Unfortunately, boating accidents claim lives every single year. To prevent a potential tragedy, follow these safety precautions before taking the boat out:

Have your boat inspected. The Vessel Safety Check is a free public service that is offered by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron volunteers. Experts will make sure that your boat meets the minimum safety requirements and also that you have the necessary safety equipment onboard that can save lives and get help in the event of an emergency.

Make sure you have plenty of life jackets on board. The easiest way to keep yourself safe while you’re on a boat is by wearing a life jacket. Eighty-two percent of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket, according to Coast Guard studies. At minimum, you should have a life jacket readily available for each person on board your boat. Laws do require that you wear a life jacket while on board as well. In states where no children’s life jacket law in in place, a U.S. Coast Guard interim rule states that children under the age of 13 are required to wear a life jacket that is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Develop and communicate a float plan. All important information pertaining to your trip including contact information for your trip leader, the type of boat you’re using, and where you plan to use your boat should be included in the plan.

Remember that consuming alcohol while on a boat is not a good idea. Sixteen percent of all recreational boating deaths have been linked to the consumption of alcohol. Although it’s not illegal to drink while boating, think of the situation the same way as driving a car under the influence of alcohol. Your reaction time is impaired and you could jeopardize the lives of yourself and your loved ones.

Pay attention to the weather. Before taking your boat out on the water, take a look at the weather forecast to make sure no thunderstorms will be on the way. Windy days also present certain hazards while boating. Waves can potentially capsize smaller vessels or passengers could fall overboard.

Keep your boating skills sharp. Operational error accounts for over 70% of boating accidents each year. You can improve your boating skills by enrolling in educational courses.

Know how to swim. If you’re out on the water in any situation, you should know how to swim. Otherwise, like it or not, you are putting yourself at risk. Floatation devices can help, but only so much.

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