It’s impossible not to make mistakes time and again when you’re manning the boat, no matter your experience level. Even when you’ve taken tons of training lessons, there’s always a fair chance that something will slip your mind sooner or later, and you’ll be experiencing one of those unforgettable “oops” moments of your life.
However, you can certainly minimize your ratio of mistakes by keeping a mental boat checklist, ensuring to tick each of the boxes before and after taking off. That said, here are a few things ‘not’ to do when you’re on a boat:
1- Neglect the Weather and Water Conditions
It’s essential to track the weather and water conditions diligently before leaving the docking station. When the water is too rough, it’s better to stay on the shore and not stray too far away. However, if you do, you must adhere to the limitations and not cruise too fast for the current conditions, as it may injure passengers and damage your boat.
2- Forget to Put in the Drain Plug
Forgetting to put in the drain plug before launching your boat is yet another mistake even experienced boaters tend to make at times, but it doesn’t make your situation any less embarrassing at the time.
3- Anchor From the Stern
When a big wave comes in, anchoring from the stern of your boat can effectively roll over the transom, putting you in a tricky spot.
4- Make a Turn without Looking
You can never know when someone might be overtaking your boat from behind, which is why it is essential not to make a turn without looking sideways first.
5- Run on Low Gas
It shouldn’t matter if you’re planning to make a short trip, running low on gas can put you in danger when the gas runs out all of a sudden, and you’re left stranded to deal with a challenging situation.
6- Cruise Through Rough Water with an Open Hatch
Unless you’re specifically looking to douse your boat’s interior, cruising through rough water with an open hatch is not such a great idea. Plus, it can be a hazard to everyone on board when a large amount of water flows into the cabin in particularly rough water conditions.
7- Cut Too Close to Another Boat
It’s recommended not to cut too close to another boat since you might snag their lines in your propeller while doing so.
8- Overload the Boat
Lastly, under no condition whatsoever should you steer the ship under the influence, as that not only leads to jail time in case you get detected, but it also puts others’ lives in grave danger. One mistake on the waterway can be a cause of a destructive set of events.
Keeping these things in mind will help you avoid unnecessary mistakes and accidents when you’re on a boat out on the water. In addition, we strongly suggest taking a beginner’s boat course if you’re a novice and not familiar with all the rules of the waterway yet. Questions about EZ Dock? Surf through our website check out our options, or contact us at (800) 654-8168 for more information!
