There are few things better than spending a day on the water with your friends and family. Keep yourself, your friends, your family, and other boaters safe by following these five tips outlined below:

1. Have a Boat Safety Kit: Since you can’t always predict when an emergency or accident will happen, you want to be prepared as best as possible with essential items like a flashlight, duct tape, first aid kit, fire extinguishers, bucket, garbage bags, whistle, and a mirror to signal for help. 
2. Check Your Life Jackets: Many people believe that a life jacket’s only job is to keep you afloat, but this is far from the case with the majority being designed to keep you face up if you lose consciousness and prevent hypothermia. By law, you must have a Coast Guard-approved life jacket for each person on the boat and anyone under the age of 13 must wear a life jacket at all times. 
3. Know the Weather: Inclement weather can move fast so be sure to check that there are incoming storms before you leave the house.
4. Participate in a Boating Safety Course: With the majority of boats being caused by operator error, it is imperative that everyone on the vessel knows how to safely operate a vessel and any state-specific requirements. BoatUS Foundation maintains a number of free boating safety courses that can be taken online. 
5. Have Your Vessel Inspected: The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary offers free Vessel Safety Checks that ensure your boat is ready for the water. As an added benefit, there are no penalties if your watercraft does not pass.

For more information on boat insurance, schedule a complimentary consultation with an employee at Craig Insurance Group in Raleigh, NC. We look forward to helping you with all your insurance needs.