Beacon Watch

boats, safety, sports

summer fun

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.

From swimming pools to a day on the lake—water offer endless recreation for people of all ages. However, it should not be ignored that, without proper care, water can present a serious danger to young children. It is very important, therefore, for parents to understand the basics of water safety both for themselves and for the children. Read on to learn more about how you can keep your children safe around water.

General Rules

  • Young children should always wear a lifejacket when in or around water.
  • Young children should always be supervised by an adult when in or around water.
  • These rules apply to even the smallest bodies of water, such as kiddie pools.

Rules for Boating

  • When it comes to boating, it is important for parents to remember that young children should wear their lifejackets, fully latched and properly placed, at all times. Though it is not always mandatory for adults to wear lifejackets, you may wish to consider wearing yours at all times in order to set a good example (and to keep yourself safe.)

Rules for the Pool

  • Backyard swimming pools must always be surrounded by a fence that prevents young children from entering unsupervised. This is one of the most important steps you can take in order to prevent drowning. NEVER allow you child to go near water unsupervised!
  • Spas and hot tubs are unsafe for young children as they can cause rapid overheating.

On Swimming Lessons

  • For children 5 years of age and older, swimming lessons are an important part of water safety. For children aged 1-4, water exposure and swimming lessons can make a difference, but parents should always assume that such children have zero swimming ability in order to prevent a dangerous situation.

Learn more…

With proper attention to safety, water recreation can be safe and fun for everyone! For more water safety information, visit the Beacon-Watch blog.

Believe it or not, there are a surprising number of adults out there who have yet to learn how to swim. If you find yourself among that group, you may feel that it is already too late, or that learning how to swim simply isn’t worth the trouble. Perhaps you really do wish to learn how to swim, you’ve just always procrastinated, and now you don’t know how to start. Whatever the case may be, we’re here to tell you: learning is always possible!

Just in case you need a bit of motivation, here are four great reasons to learn how to swim!

  1. Fun. First of all, swimming can be a lot of fun! From enjoying a quick dip on a hot summer day, to competing in swimming competitions—there are so many opportunities to enjoy your newfound skill of swimming. This alone is plenty of reason to learn!
  2. Safety. On a more serious note, learning how to swim is one of the most important steps you can take in order to stay safe around bodies of water. Additionally, learning how to swim will put you in a better position to help those around you should an emergency situation ever arise.
  3. Health. Swimming is a fantastic form of exercise that works the entire body. Moreover, it doesn’t place stress on the ligaments in the way that other popular forms of cardiovascular exercise such as running do.
  4. Challenge Yourself. We should all be lifelong learners: it allows us to enjoy the richest life experience possible. Taking on the challenge of learning how to swim is a great way to expand your world!

If you’re ready to get started on the new adventure of learning how to swim, we recommend that you find an organization such as your local YMCA that offers a place to practice (and lessons if you so prefer.) Meanwhile, research always helps. Visit the Beacon-Watch blog for a plethora of water safety information!

Whether for sport or for recreation, on a lake or in the open sea; few things are more enjoyable than a day of boating. No matter where you may be boating, it is always important to prioritize safety.  This is not to say that safety must take a back seat to fun–in fact, the two often go hand-in-hand. Here are four simple tips that can help improve both safety and enjoyment at the same time!

1. Remember to fill up on gas.

Nothing can more easily ruin a day on the water than running out of fuel and becoming stranded. Particularly when out in the ocean, it is crucial to keep a close eye on the fuel gauge and to not take risks when determining how long your boat can run on a single tank. Becoming lost at sea and immobile can be irritating at best and life-threatening at worst.

2. Take note of weather and of water currents.

Before you start your boat and head out into the water, it is important to first check the weather to make sure that no storms are approaching. Excessively large waves and lightning can be a safety hazard, causing damage to your boat and putting passengers at risk. Strong currents in the ocean can also pull you far off course, so be wary of these as well.

3. Pack the proper equipment.

Boating is always safer (not to mention more enjoyable) with the proper equipment around. This should include, at the very least, lifejackets for everyone on board, a compass or GPS (if on the ocean), a first aid kit, and a flotation device for rescue from the water. Food/snacks and drinking water are usually not bad investments either. See the Beacon-Watch online store for more important boating safety equipment!

4. Understand your boat and the rules of boating

This subject is not quite as straightforward as the others, seeing as all boats are different in size and shape, as are local/state boating laws. However, this may be one of the most important rules, as understanding how your boat works and what its capabilities are–as well as the universal and local rules of boating–is crucially essential to safety. To earn this kind of knowledge, you may want (or, some cases, actually be required by your local government) to attend a boating class.

Check out more articles in the Beacon-Watch blog for more important boating safety advice!

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.