Remember, captain and crew should always be prepared for emergencies and never put guests at risk. Here are a few basic suggestions for a safe trip. Planning Ahead For a Great Voyage. Start by making sure the boat is sea worthy and everything on board is in good working condition. You should always do standard safety checks before you leave the marina, making sure the engine is running well, the battery is fully charged and the bilge pump is working properly.

Make sure the boat is also equip with the necessary navigational and communication devices, and that they are in working order. Always carry extra drinking water and extra fuel on board. The fuel should be stored safely in an external canister. A first aid kit and a tool kit are two things you might need in an emergency, so make sure they are on board as well.

Before you leave dock you should also be sure the boat is not overloaded and that you have personal flotation devices (PDF's) for every person on board. Show your guests where they are and how to use them in case of an emergency. Non-swimmers should keep the PDF on at all times. If you are setting way with first timers, make sure they know where to sit and when it's safe to move about.

Last but not least, always check the weather before you agree to set sail, know your crews level of competence, know the travel plans for the day and ask for the destination and return time in advance. You Can't Control the Weather To be safe on the water you must understand the weather is always a wild card. You can do your best to avoid a problem by checking weather before you set sail, but even the best weather forecast can not always tell you what is really ahead.

It's not uncommon to have a sunny day turn into thunderstorms when you are on the water. Boating safety means competence in changing conditions. Review your boater safety manual on a regular basis, so when a real emergency strikes you remember what to do. It's pretty much impossible to out run a storm. When you know a storm system is on you, quickly stow away all loose gear, make sure everyone is in personal flotation devices, and remain calm!

If you think your boat is in trouble, radio your location to the coast guard, don't wait until you know your boat is in trouble. Be prepared, be safe and have fun!