Safety Gear You Need for Your Boat

While a boat is technically water ready the moment you take it off the dealership lot, you don’t want to dive headfirst into a boating adventure without making sure you have all the necessary safety equipment on hand first. To learn exactly what you need for your upcoming boating trip, consider reading through our informative article below.

Preventative Supplies

In order to avoid a serious emergency, it’s important to have a few pieces of preventative supplies on deck at all times. For example, a first aid kit. While this item may not seem like a preventative feature at first glance, with the right supplies in stock a first-aid kit can keep small conditions or injuries from becoming dire—and give you plenty of time to get to shore or call for help if the wounds do require professional attention. 

Another important preventative tool is a fire extinguisher. Electrical, oil, and cooking fires are just as likely on boats as they are in your home, and you always want to have an extinguisher on hand to put out any fires that accidentally alight. In fact, fire extinguishers are legally required to be on board in most states, and you’ll want to check your local ordinances to make sure you’re purchasing the right-sized extinguisher for your boat. 

Emergency Supplies 

You never know when an emergency will arise, so it’s incredibly important that you’re prepared for the worst-case scenario. For boats, this often means having to jump overboard. As a result, it's imperative that you have enough personal flotation devices for each one of your passengers, as well as a throwable flotation device in case you’re unable to quickly reach one of your passengers. You’ll also need a way to alert nearby boaters or the authorities that you’re in distress. Ordinances on distress signals will also vary from state to state, but you’ll typically have your pick of bull horns, air horns, whistles, flares, distress flags, and electric distress lights. Just make sure you have at least two sound-making distress devices, and that one of your signals is visible at night. 

If you’re on the hunt for helpful supplies, accessories, or parts for your boat, you’ll want to visit us here at Nisswa Marine! Our convenient location in Nisswa Minnesota offers a wide variety of helpful boating equipment and proudly serves our clientele in the cities of Minneapolis and St. Cloud, Minnesota.