Boater Etiquettes. Whether you are sailing on a crowded lake or along the coast where there are many boats in sight, you still need to look in all directions to ensure you can safely dock your boat. Proper boating etiquette allows you to ascertain your safety and that of others while also having fun on your sail.
Boating etiquettes have developed a lot over the years. There are some rules that are set in stone and need to be followed to the letter. Ignoring them can have financial or legal repercussions. Then there are the rules that are unwritten. Think of them as courtesies that you extend to other boaters. They make your boating experience more exciting and allow you to have a relaxing time.
Let’s take a look at the most common boating etiquettes:
Watch Your Wake
Have you ever seen the splash your boat creates when you are cruising at high speed? That splash is known as a wake, and it can harm the passengers on nearby boats. The trick to maintaining your wake is a bit confusing, but to make it easy for you, we have explained it below in terms of speed.
- Displacement Speed: This is the slowest speed and hence creates the least wake.
- Transition Speed: As the bow rises, a large wake is created, which is very dangerous.
- Planing Speed: Though your boat is speeding up, it’s cruising at a steady speed, which creates less wake.
When you are at transition speed, make sure that there are no boats nearby. Always start with displacement speed as you leave the dock, reach clear water, and then go into transition speed.
Keep It Clean
Throwing away trash in the water is not very environmentally friendly. Keeping the dock and the lake or river clean is not just about throwing soda cans and wrappers in the dustbin. Following are a few more ways on how to keep the water clean:
- When refueling, be careful not to spill any oil
- If you do spill oil in the water, tell the Coast Guard immediately
- Throw all your trash in a plastic bag and take it with you when getting off the boat
- Make sure that your boat has a sanitation facility so that you don’t dump sewage in the water
- Learn how to properly anchor your boat to avoid damaging the ecosystem
Learn the Rules of the Lake
When you see a boat coming towards you, turn your PWC to starboard. Pass from port to port. This allows both boaters to avoid any confusion that might cause a collision.
If you see another boater trying to overtake you, then maintain your speed and course. However, if you feel that this might put you and the passengers onboard in harm’s way, then slow down and let the other boater pass.
Canoes, SUPs, kayaks, and other human-powered vessels have the right to pass any other vessel, even a sailboat.
And this is how you may prove that you are a responsible boater who is worried not just about their own safety but also about the safety of others. If you are looking for quality floating docks for boats or do-it-yourself docks, then visit the EZ Dock website. They offer residential, commercial as well as industrial docks. For more information, call on (800) 654-8168.
