Beacon Watch

boats, safety, sports

boats

Boating techniques:

If the weather is less than ideal, take some extra measures to ensure everyone’s comfort on your cruise. Keeping comfortable and calm is a part of staying safe on the water.  Remember to where a lifejacket, and PSB.

  • Check the weather
  • Prep Your Crew
  • Get Tuned
  • Check Your Canvas
  • Play the Sheets
  • Keep it Calm
  • Head Up or Run
  • Tend to the Stick

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Source: Keeping Control in Heavy Air

        Boating accidents. We all like to think they cannot happen to us. However, while the odds of a boating emergency are slim, particularly for those who follow the proper safety protocol, even the most diligent and careful boater can find himself or herself in an emergency. The difference between your boating accident being an inconvenience and a disaster is the difference between coming prepared and failing to do what is necessary to prepare. So what can you do to prepare your boat and your crew for the worst? Below are a few tips on preparing your boat for an accident—before and after you have left the dock.

  1. Have your boat inspected regularly. If you have the proper knowledge to check all of the different aspects of your boat to ensure safety, do so on a regular basis. If not, it is possible to take advantage of boat inspections given free by the US Coast Guard.
  2. Have lifejackets—and wear them. Many people keep their vessels stocked with a good number of lifejackets—which is of course, at least as many as there are people on the boat. However, some people make the mistake of not putting them on until an emergency occurs. This can be a problem because many accidents happen too fast to anticipate.
  3. Tell someone, preferably a trusted adult friend or the crew at the local marina, where you will be going and when you plan to return. This will help people realize much sooner if you have become stranded or cannot return to shore for some other reason.
  4. Bring some kind of signaling beacon in order to help signal help if you are in need of it. This will help the authorities locate you and rescue you if an emergency occurs.

Looking for high-tech, state of the art boating safety technology? Visit BeaconWatch today to learn more!

Winterizing your recreational boat correctly is certainly one of the least enjoyable aspects of owning a boat. But it is also one of the most important. With a relatively small investment of time and money, you can insure that your boat will be functioning perfectly when springtime rolls back around. Winterization is important financially (as it saves you from making potentially costly repairs), and it is also an important element of boating safety. (After all, should something go wrong over the course of the winter, there is a chance you may not realize it until the next time you are out on the water!)

Proper winterization involves a number of distinct steps that ultimately depend upon what kind of boat you have. If you are completely new to the process, we reccomend that you check out a comprehensive guide to winterization, such as this excellent resource offered by DiscoverBoating.com.

Regardless of your experience level, however, everyone makes mistakes sometimes. A mistake in winterization can lead to a potentially dangerous situation out on the water, though–which is why it’s important to keep these frequently overlooked steps in mind.

  1. Perform a deep clean and diagnostic examination. Taking the time to deep clean your boat at the end of boating season is an enormous favor that your future self will really appreciate come springtime. But it is also an important safety precaution–it allows you the chance to double-check for any potential problems that have arisen over the past months.
  2. Fill Gas Tank. This prevents condensation from leaving water in the tank. Some boaters claim that they would rather deal with the water problem than waste an entire tank of gas–however, this is ultimately short sighted. (And, with gasoline stabilizer, it is possible to prevent your gasoline from expiring anyway.)
  3. Always Leave the Boat Covered. This step is frequently overlooked by those who are storing their boats in an indoor garage. Because boating upholstery can potentially cost thousands to replace, however, (and because the unexpected does happen from time to time,) the small investment of a cover is always worth it.

Always Committed to Boating Safety.

Boating safety is an ongoing commitment that requires level-headedness, careful maintenance, and an investment in safety equipment. To learn more about the latest and greatest in boating safety equipment, visit Beacon Watch online today.

  Because no boat is entirely trustworthy—think of the Titanic—even if you are the greatest boater in the world, you may one day need to be able to survive in the water without it. This is why one of the most important aspects of boating safety actually has nothing to do with boats. Swimming is one of the most crucial skills to a safe boater, and, of all of the different methods of staying afloat, treading water may be the most useful to a boater. This is because rather than trying to swim to the shore, the passenger of a capsized boat is typically simply waiting where he or she is in order to be rescued. Below are 5 steps on how to tread water efficiently and correctly.

  • Do not try to swim. When swimming, you turn your body horizontally in the water and kick your legs. However, when treading water, you keep your body upright and use both your arms and legs.
  • Move your arms horizontally, and your legs back and forth in a circular motion.
  • Do not panic. Additionally, continue breathing normally. Panicking and hyperventilating can only waste your energy and make it more difficult to actually stay above the water.
  • Lie on your back if you are having trouble staying afloat in the normal position. This will also become difficult after a while, but it uses different muscles and different technique than regular water treading, so it may help you rest and stay afloat longer.
  • Use anything around you to stay afloat. This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you happen to see any floating debris—wood, garbage, etc—in the water, do not hesitate to grab onto it.

Looking for more ways to stay safe while boating? Check out BeaconWatch today for state of the art boating safety solutions.

It’s no fun thinking about boating accidents (and, fortunately, your odds of experiencing one are fairly low.) That being said, a bit of forethought can go a long way towards ensuring your safety—even if accidents are the last thing you want to be thinking about before hitting the lake! Here is an interesting breakdown of boating accidents by type provided by the California Department of Boating and Waterways that give you an idea of what to watch out for on the open water.

  • 32% of reported boating accidents in 2013 were collisions between two or more boating vehicles.
  • 22% involved flooding and/or swamping.
  • 13% involved grounding.
  • 12% involved sinking.
  • 11% of accidents were, in fact, skiing accidents.
  • 10% were related to capsizing.
  • 8% were man-overboard situations due to a fall.
  • 6% were boater-ejections.
  • 5% were caused by collision with a fixed object.
  • 3% were cause by fire and/or explosion.
  • *Note that some accidents involved more than one of the above criteria, which is why the percentages add up to be above 100.

So what can we learn from all of this? First of all, collisions are more common than the average boater assumes! Just because water doesn’t involve “traffic” the same way your morning commute does, doesn’t mean you should take your fellow boaters for granted! Boating collisions can be catastrophic, which is why it is highly important to always be aware and considerate when on the water.

Secondly, we can see that man-overboard situations add up to 14% of all accidents when falls and ejections are added together. This emphasizes the importance of wearing your lifejacket—after all, your life vest won’t do you any good if it is resting in the boat when you end up in the water! Moreover, you may wish to consider investing in an emergency locator beacon in order to assist should such a situation arise.

Finally, it is important to note that water-skiing, while exhilarating, does come with a bit of risk. To minimize the risks, skiers should always be alert, wear life jackets, and avoid skiing while under the influence.

For more boating safety advice, visit Beacon-Watch online today.

The United States Coast Guard mandates that a certain set of safety equipment be present on any recreational boat.  This list includes a number of basic items that are absolutely crucial for emergency mitigation.  However, there are a number of other items that aren’t legally required, but can make a huge difference in your safety and enjoyment of the trip.  Here are our top ten items all boaters should bring along on all outings.

    1. A first aid kit. Though not a legal requirement, having bandages, gauze, antiseptic cream, and other first aid items is a big safety bonus.
    2. Sun protection.  For your long-term safety and your short-term comfort, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must.
    3. Waterproof bag. This will help you keep items that must stay dry (cameras, towels, clothes, documents, etc.) dry.
    4. Water. Dehydration can creep up quickly on hot days full of fun and action!
    5. Jumper cables. Should you experience unexpected battery problems, this could save the day.  If you see someone with battery troubles, you can be their hero,
    6. Rope.  This will allow you to tie up to docks; it will also allow you to tow other boats to safety in an emergency situation.
    7. Swiss army knife/multi-tool.  Be prepared for minor maintenance issues!
  • Emergency locator beacon.  In water-based emergencies, every second is precious.  Emergency locator beacons can play an important role in rescue missions.  Whether you’re just relaxing at sea, or engaging in extreme water sports, it’s definitely worth considering the benefits an emergency locator beacon could offer should a dangerous situation arise.

SeaMe™

The SeaMe™ emergency locator beacon by Beacon Watch is designed with you in mind!  Featuring patented technology and a three year battery life, the SeaMe™ is always ready at a moment’s notice.  Contact us today for more information.