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Boat Safety Guide

Sailing boats may seem like a potentially dangerous activity, but it’s actually very safe so long as certain precautions are taken. For example, should you or you crew suffer an injury at sea or your boat gets damaged for some reason, then there are simple procedures you can follow that will help protect you, your crew, and your boat and ensuring a safe return to shore. This boat safety guide explains a few important things to remember.

Cruising Safety

Before you even think about raising the anchor and casting-off, you must ensure you have everything you need to cruise safely in your boat. Here's a list of essential items you should take with you on any boating excursion:

  • Personal Buoyancy Aid/Life Jacket - Inflatable lifejackets and are designed to support your head in the water. However, lifejackets can be cumbersome, and for this reason many sailors prefer to wear buoyancy aids (For further information visit the Royal Yachting Association).
  • Suitable Clothing - bear in mind the conditions you will be travelling in when considering what to wear,  and what you will be doing (eg- if you expect to capsize a lot, wear a dry or wet suit instead of clothes).
  • Sun Protection - Sun cream is essential if the weather is hot, and it's important to note that sunburn can occur just as easily if there is a stiff wind - it may make you feel cooler, but the sun's rays will still penetrate. As well as protecting your skin, sunglasses should be worn to protect your eyes from harmful UV light.

Life Raft - A life raft should be included in your boat safety equipment in case you need to abandon ship. Included with this should be flares, emergency food and a supply of fresh water.

First Aid

When cruising in your boat over long distances, it's recommended that you or one of your crew-members has experience and competence in administering first aid. More often than not, most injuries sustained whilst sailing will consist of a few bumps to the head and a little sunburn, but if anything more serious should happen, then it's useful to have the necessary first aid skills onboard amongst the boat's crew before calling for assistance (Find out more about first aid from the St John's Ambulance).

Fire Safety

One of the most important things any boat safety guide should tell you is to prepare for the unfortunate outbreak of a fire. In the event of a fire breaking out onboard, it's more than likely to have been caused by one of three things:

  • a cooking accident
  • a gas/fuel supply failure
  • or an electrical fault.

Gas/fuel problems are potentially the most dangerous because they can easily cause explosions, so it's imperative to maintain fuel sources in good condition.

It's also essential to carry and maintain the correct types of fire extinguisher onboard. They are all suitable for different causes and types of fire, as follows:

  • Dry Powder fire extinguishers can be used on any sort of fire, which is useful if you do not know what the source is.
  • Foam fire extinguishers are also very effective, however must not be used on electrical fires, as there as a risk of electric shock and potentially death.
  • CO₂ fire extinguishers are effective at putting out engine and electrical fires.

In the event of a fire breaking out, you should remain calm at all times. Act quickly to put the fire out using the appropriate extinguisher if it is safe to do so, and direct your crew in such away as not to put them in additional danger.

If the fire cannot be contained, then you boat must be considered a potentially lethal hazard. You should endeavour to abandon ship as quickly and as safely as possible, as well as alerting other vessels nearby of the hazard. If the fire is successfully doused, then it is likely that the boat will have sustained serious damage, and you should bear immediately to the nearest port (For further information about fire safety onboard your boat, visit the Fire Service Online or The Boat Safety Scheme).

Water Leaks

Water leaks on a boat usually occur due to some form of collision, either due to the hull hitting hidden rocks, ice or coral in shallow water. Sometimes it may even be due to a collision with another boat. Leaks can also occur slowly over a period of time from wear and tear on the boat's hull, although, if you maintain your craft properly, this shouldn't be a regular occurrence.

If you are unlucky enough to experience a leak, you should try to remain calm and follow these instructions:

  • Turn on any electric pumps and get your boat crew to begin the arduous job of bailing water out of the boat.
  • Block the hole whilst this is being undertaken, using whatever means necessary. This may become more difficult if the hole is deeper in the hull, due to the increased water pressure. Soft items, such as bunk cushions, are effective because they can be forced into the hole and then braced in position.
  • Head for port as soon as you‘ve plugged the hole (whilst maintaining the bailing of excess water out of the boat).

Should you fail to successfully plug the leak, then you must prepare to abandon ship.

Abandon Ship!

Abandoning ship should be an action taken only in the most extreme of circumstances. You are not only much safer on your boat, but also much more likely to be found by rescuers. If you are however forced to take this action, then heed by these rules:

  • Stay on your boat for as long as possible.
  • Send out a distress call, including your location, before you leave your boat.
  • Buoyancy aid/Lifejacket - ensure you are wearing one.

Food, Water and Flares - take as many essential extras as you can onto your life raft. Once you're on the life raft, don't leave it unless you absolutely have to.

The Boat Safety Scheme

For further advice about boat safety guidance, you can contact The Boat Safety Scheme, which is sponsored by the Environment Agency and British Waterways. The aim of The Boat Safety Scheme is to promote boat safety on the UK's inland waterways, and as such is supported by the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA).

Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)

For sea going vessels, you can contact the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The RNLI is a charity which can provide you with further boat safety information as well as offering a free RNLI SEA Check - your boat and your boat's safety equipment will be inspected and any feedback you receive will form part of the RNLI's main aim of saving lives at sea.

Cover My Boat Insurance

Of course, boat safety guides will tell you almost everything you need to know to cruise or sail safely in your vessel, however, one of the most important things for you to do is to protect yourself against the legal ramifications of an accident as well as the financial burden when something goes wrong. You can do this by taking out adequate boat insurance.

Cover My Boat Insurance provides an easy way to get boat insurance cover. Use our simple, quick and easy-to-use form to buy boat insurance online. Our prices are low-cost and highly competitive, and you could have your boat insurance policy set up in minutes.

Get a free boat insurance quote online now