• Take a boating course from your local Power Squadron, CG Auxiliary, Red Cross, or State agency. Each year statistics show that less than 10% of the victims of fatal boating accidents were known to have taken any kind of formal boating course. Statistically, the “edge” seems to go toward the “edge-ucated”. Boating courses are fun and could save your life or the lives of those near to you.
  • Stay well clear of large vessels in restricted channels. Cargo ships, river tows, barges and other large vessels are very restricted in their ability to stop and turn. Some heavily loaded ships in strong currents take miles to stop even with engines full astern. So give them room!
  • Make sure that someone else on board knows the basic operation and systems of your boat. In the event of your disablement as skipper, it might make the difference between life and death if someone else can get the boat to shore and operate the radio.
  • Assign life jackets to each passenger and make sure they fit, the straps are secure and adjusted properly and are readily accessible to that person should the need arise. Do this BEFORE you depart. It’s too late when you’re in the water.
  • Don’t play chicken with buoys or other navigation aids. The markers may be sitting atop a rock pile or the buoy chain may be angled your way because of wind or current. Also, if you happen to graze (mark) a buoy, damage it or move it off station with your wake, you will cause great peril to other boaters who depend on them for safe navigation.
  • Be sure and warn everybody on board when approaching another boat’s wake. Passengers who are unaware of the impending shock of a wake may be thrown into windshields or other fixtures on the boat, may fall or may be thrown overboard.
  • Nearly all wake injuries are the result of passengers standing in the boat. The skipper should issue firm instructions that passengers should be SEATED when approaching a wake. This is especially important to the passengers that may be below and therefore unable to see the danger and prepare for it.
  • Slow the boat BEFORE the wake arrives. Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of the wake pattern before pulling back on the throttle.
  • Don’t bring your boat to a complete stop. Maintain some headway so the bow doesn’t get shoved aside.
  • When overtaking another boat, cross the wake quickly rather than riding the waves. The force of a wake on either side of the hull can cause loss of control and maneuverability and the longer you stay on the wave, the greater the chance of that happening.
  • Try and avoid taking a steep wake on the beam. You should change course briefly into the wake and then proceed back to your course after clearing the wake.
  • Operating an overloaded boat is always dangerous but the danger is many times greater in areas where there is heavy boat traffic and large wakes. Never overload your boat. Adhere to the limits on your capacity plate.
  • Anchor in protected areas. Wakes from passing boats can cause falls, galley accidents and even structural damage.
  • Shallow water increases the height of your boat’s wake. Always look behind you when increasing or decreasing throttle so you are aware of your wake’s impact.
  • Your speed and your trim determine the size of your wake. Take time to know what kind of wake your boat throws under various trim and speed conditions.
  • If your boat is out of trim or comes on plane slowly, you will throw a larger wake than expected. Make sure your boat is trimmed correctly and bring the boat on plane as quickly and safely as possible.
  • Slow your boat in advance of your wake. If you intend to minimize your wake near a marina, small boat, etc., it is too late to reduce throttle when you are abeam of that objective.
  • REMEMBER…YOU ARE LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR INJURIES OR DAMAGE RESULTING FROM YOUR WAKE!