12 Safety Tips for Recreational Boaters
You may open it by sliding or pulling back a small clip attached to it. Like how you drive a car, a truck, or any motor vehicle for that matter, you must be mindful of controlling your speed to prevent any accidents. Boat lines are ropes that secure your motorboat to the slip, pier, or dock. These are the mooring lines, dock lines, and spring lines, among others.
I always let everyone on board know before we ever leave and again when we return that hands and feet should stay in the boat around the dock. If you take in the 3 driving tips shown above on how to drive a pontoon boat, there’s absolutely no reason why you can’t be up and running in minutes. Here are some of the best videos that I have found on YouTube for first time pontoon boat driving tips. Your speed should be slow, even, and steady giving you just enough power to get the pontoon boat driven into the slip space.
Boaters can get information from VHF marine radios, commercial radios and television stations and newspapers. As a boater, you need to be aware of the types of advisories and take yachts action before a storm hits. Warnings range from small craft advisories, with winds of 18 knots or less, up to hurricane warnings with winds of 74 miles per hour or greater.
Although there are no numerical speed limits on the water, citations may be issued for excessive speed or reckless operation. Use common sense, and operate at a safe speed at all times — especially in crowded areas. Maintain a 50-foot distance from other PWC’s, vessels, persons, shore, or stationary platform or other object unless operating at headway speed. As long as you are safe, take care, and are a responsible captain, I genuinely believe that within 10 minutes you will be entirely comfortable operating one of these amazing vessels. As you can see, it’s actually incredibly simple to drive a pontoon boat.
Keeping the crew aware can make the difference between an enjoyable time on the water and one of discomfort or, worse, injury. Let the rider swim up to the boat, do not drive all the way to them. It’s a good idea for the whole family to enroll in a boater education course.
The demands of the photographers, clients and environments in which I operate have chiseled me into a paranoid boater. The slightest errors can result in lost shots and lost time. Bigger errors can cost thousands of dollars and garner the attention of insurance companies. Success comes from proper training, years of experience and a good dose of telepathy.