Boating Safety Tips

Think Ahead:

• Carry a fire extinguisher and keep it charged.
• Make sure your gas tanks are vented and bilges are free of vapors, oil, waste and grease.
• Have your boat’s operating systems checked at least once a year by a certified technician.
• Get a vessel safety check from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or United States Power Squadrons.
• Follow our Boat Maintenance Tips.

Take a Safety Class

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 89 percent of reported fatalities in 2011 happened on boats where the driver had not received boating safety training. Make sure anyone who drives your boat is properly trained. You also can save up to 15 percent on your Tulsa Insurance Guy boat policy by completing a safety course with the Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons.

Wear Life Jackets

It’s not enough to just have life jackets on board. You and your passengers must wear them. The U.S. Coast Guard reported in 2011 that drowning accounts for 70 percent of all boating fatalities; and in those cases, 84 percent of victims were not wearing a life jacket. New lighter, more comfortable and attractive life jackets are available today, making it even easier to get passengers to comply.

Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Turn off your engine when there are people in the water, especially when they’re using the rear swimming deck of your boat. Teak surfing, or holding onto the back deck of a boat while it’s moving, can expose people in the water to dangerous and even fatal levels of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide gas is colorless and odorless. A swimmer exposed to carbon monoxide from your engine could pass out and drown before anyone notices. You can install a carbon monoxide detector on your boat for less than $100.