Safety at Sea – What to Consider
Sailing is an exhilarating and enjoyable activity, but it’s crucial to prioritise safety whilst out on the water. Equipping your boat with the right safety equipment is essential to ensure the well-being of everyone on board, and to comply with UK law.
In this blog, we will provide a comprehensive boat safety checklist, outlining the specific safety equipment you need for a safe and worry-free boating experience.
Contents
What Safety Equipment is Needed on a Boat?
Boating safety is vital, and having the right equipment is essential to implement this. This boat safety checklist includes providing life jackets for all occupants, fire extinguishers and blankets, a well-stocked first aid kit, lifebuoys with self-igniting lights, oars or paddles, distress signals, a kill cord for the boat’s driver, and buckets for emergencies. Prioritise yourself and your passengers by following this safety equipment checklist and ensuring your vessel is equipped for a safe and enjoyable boating adventure.
Boat Safety Checklist
In order to establish an extensive boat safety checklist, we have described the potential risks whilst out at sea and the safety equipment that are essential to equip your boat or yacht. As well as these, consider having a range of spare parts on hand just in case.
Life Jackets
Life jackets are a vital safety item on any boat. Make sure to carry life jackets for all occupants, no matter their age. It’s important to choose life jackets that fit each person on board properly and consider different sizes and styles for all ages. Regularly inspect and maintain life jackets to ensure they are in good condition and are fit for purpose. All life jackets should have flotation devices, lights, whistles, crotch straps, and ideally, a spray hood. Wearing life jackets at all times whilst out on a boat is strongly recommended.
Fire Safety
Fire can be a catastrophic event on a boat, so it’s crucial to have the appropriate fire safety measures in place. Make sure to have appropriately sized fire extinguishers and fire blankets on board and regularly service and maintain them to check that they still function correctly. Also, ensure the fire extinguishers are suitable for the different areas of your boat, and keep fire blankets easily accessible as an additional safety option in case they are needed.
First Aid Kit
Carrying a well-stocked first aid kit is essential for addressing medical emergencies on board. Include items such as painkillers, motion sickness medicine, thermometer, tweezers, scissors, alcohol, iodine tincture, gauze, bandages, plasters, sunscreen, after-sun lotion, and compresses are thoroughly recommended as part of the boat safety checklist. Don’t forget to include any specific medications required by individuals on board.
Lifebuoys
In case of an emergency, having lifebuoys as well as lifejackets on board is crucial. The number of lifebuoys should correspond to the number of people on board, in order to act as personal flotation devices. Equip the lifebuoys with self-igniting lights, buoyant lifelines, and self-activating smoke signals. Position them on both the starboard and port sides of the vessel for quick release from the navigating bridge.
Oars and Liferafts
In case of engine failure or emergencies, it’s wise to have oars or paddles as a backup in your boat. For larger boats, carrying a suitable liferaft is mandatory. Ensure you have enough life rafts to accommodate all occupants safely, so you aren’t left with a shortage. Consider also having line throwing apparatus or using oars/paddles to guide a person back to the boat if they fall overboard.
Distress Signals
Having essential distress signals or sound signalling devices on board is crucial for attracting attention and requesting assistance in emergencies. Keep red hand flares and orange smoke flares as a minimum requirement. Additional distress signals like white hand flares and parachute flares can also be valuable. Use distress signals in conjunction with a handheld VHF radio as part of your boat safety checklist for effective communication and increased safety while at sea.
Kill Cord
The boat’s driver should always wear a kill cord, which stops the engine if they are unexpectedly thrown from the helm. Choose the appropriate type of kill cord for your specific engine, as this is not a ‘one size fits all’ situation. Wireless kill cords offer increased mobility, but ensure you check compatibility before using them on a journey. Using a kill cord is a critical safety measure to consider.
Dredging Equipment
Lastly, having buckets on board can be crucial for bilge pumping or emergency water removal. In case of a malfunctioning pump or other emergencies, buckets serve as a practical and inexpensive solution and can be life-saving.
Conclusion
Safety should always be the top priority when sailing. By following this boat safety checklist and equipping your vessel with the necessary safety equipment, you can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on the water. Remember, prevention and preparedness are key to keeping everyone on board secure and protected and should be considered before looking into purchasing a boat or yacht.
At Clipper Marine, we offer a wide range of services including new and used sailing yachts, power boats and yachts from some of the biggest yacht brands including Bali Catamaran and Bavaria Yachts.
Get in touch with a member of our expert team to discuss any further queries about the boat safety checklist or begin the process of purchasing your first vessel.
