Boating safety checklist

With the Perth weather forecast for Easter currently looking ideal for boating, there’s no doubt many of us will want to get out on the water and enjoy the beautiful sunshine.

Before you leave, it is vital to ensure the safety of yourself and others by giving your boat a thorough check-over and making sure you have the correct safety equipment on board.

Here’s a reminder of some of things you should check or do before heading out:

• Make sure you re-check the weather forecast, including tides and currents, before heading out. If you are heading out for a full day or even the whole weekend, make sure you have a working radio on board to receive regular weather updates.
• Leave a float plan with someone on land so they know where you will be if they need to get in contact.
• Make sure you have enough life jackets on board for everyone, even those who claim to be strong swimmers. The life jackets should be easily accessible and everyone on board should know where they are located before you head out. According to the Department of Transport, life jackets should be worn:
• At the first sign of bad weather.
• Between sunset and sunrise or during restricted visibility.
• When operating in unfamiliar waters.
• When operating with a following sea.
• When boating alone (this is especially recommended).
• At all times on children under 10 years.
• If you are a poor swimmer.
• Items that will come in handy in case of emergency include a horn or other sound-producing device, a basic toolbox with tools appropriate for a boat and a “spares” box with light bulbs, fuel filters and other useful items.
• Make sure your fuel tanks are topped up and check your engine oil and coolant levels. Keep monitoring your fuel levels while out on the water to ensure you don’t go out of returning range.
• If you haven’t done a maintenance check on your boat for a while, make sure you conduct one before heading out on the water. You can contact your local marine services business to help with this and with any repairs that may be needed.