People often ask me, “is it not dangerous out there?” My standard respond to that is, statistically seen, it is far more dangerous to drive a car across the country than crossing the ocean in a sailboat. That being said, I know how statistics are generated and calculated. It does not do me any good if 1000 people make it safely across the ocean, but I am the one the ends up drowning in a storm. Therefore always prepare for the worst. If you hope for the best and plan for the worst, you are safe. It’s just like with anything in life the better you prepare ahead a time, the easier you will have it if you get in a stressful situation.

Anything that can go wrong will go wrong
- Murphy’s Law -

Here are some tips to help you how to prepare your boat to get on to the water.

Life jackets: The life jacket is the single most important piece of safety gear for any boater. Life jackets are designed to keep the wearer to float with there head above the water. Never compromise your personal safety. For this reason do not use inexpensive and uncomfortable life jackets that create physical discomfort and resistance.

Charge batteries: Before setting your boat on water always check out whether the batteries are charged and if they hold the charge. The best bow or stern thruster won’t do you any good with an empty battery. A fully charged battery also comes in handy when you try to start your engine.

Registration check: To avoid any violation rules and conflict with the law check the expiry date of the boat registration.

Fire extinguisher: Fire is one of the most feared words in a boater’s vocabulary. There is no such thing as an insignificant fire on a boat. US Coast Guard regulations require that you have a fire extinguisher on board depending on the size of your boat you may even need more than one.

Hull: Make sure there is no damage cracks or holes the boat before setting on the water.

Medications: Make sure you have a fully equipped first aid kit with you. Take some of the antihistamine and antibiotics with you. Insect repellent, sun lotion, band aids should also never be missing on a boat trip.