Shout AHOY if you love sailing. This amazing water sport is relaxing, exhilarating, and challenging. Nothing beats the cool water spray that hits your face and the wind in your hair when sailing at top speed. Before you crank the wheel further, we suggest that you ensure all your safety protocols are in place for your and your passengers’ sake.
Sailing has a couple of inherent dangers, which can be avoided by following a few basic guidelines and rules. This will help you minimize hazards and offer you an exciting experience and peace of mind that you have taken care of everything on your end.
Safety Tactics
If you have children on board, instruct their parents to watch them, so they don’t touch or adjust anything.
To avoid any mishaps, list down all the instructions you need to tell your passengers, such as holding on to the boat with one hand. Moreover, make sure your passengers know that they are not allowed on board if they have been drinking. Alcohol impairs your judgment and causes you to lose your balance, something that you need to hold on to when you are boating.
Let’s take a look at a few other boating safety tips for your passenger:
Make a Checklist
Your pre-departure checklist should include all safety precautions that need to be taken while boating. From wearing a life jacket to packing snacks, instructions on how to use flares, where the first-aid kit and fire extinguisher are placed, these are all the things you need to take care of before setting sail. Discuss with all the passengers and make sure they understand the safety protocols.
Check Your Boat
Before letting the passengers onboard, thoroughly check your boat. This checklist should include checking the oil and fuel levels, testing electronics, inspecting leaks, and making sure that the boat has enough power to turn the lights on at night for a long time.
Don’t forget to keep emergency signaling devices onboard and a ditch bag. You are probably wondering what the latter accessory is for. Imagine getting stuck in a storm, and the sudden lightning bolt forces you to abandon ship. This is where the ditch bag comes in. It will also have the necessary supplies to help you survive until rescue arrives.
Quiz Your Passengers
So, this safety tip might feel a little out of the ordinary, but it will help you prepare a database of your passengers, which will come quite in handy during difficult situations. One of the most important things to ask your passengers is if they have any health issues or physical limitations, such as asthma, epilepsy, heart complications, or diabetes. Advise them to pack extra pills and something that will help them quell nausea.
If you happen to be offering your passengers a premium cruise on a luxury yacht, then ask about their food preferences and dietary restrictions. It will be easier to design the menus and present them with multiple options.
All this information will help you keep your passengers safe and sound. Your responsibility starts when they decide to get on board. They continue until they have safely disembarked on the floating dock.
To ensure that your boat is always nearby for regular maintenance, why not invest in a floating dock? You can get one from EZ Dock. For more information, call (800) 654-8168.