Boating Safety (87)

Smiling man in sunglasses and blue shirt on boat, get a boat safety certification concept.

Boat Safety Certification: Why Every Boater Needs It

If you're interested in boating, consider how you can do your part to make the waterways safer. Safe boating includes your safety, as well as that of your passengers, boaters on nearby vessels, swimmers, and anyone else on the water. One of the best ways…

Small boat anchored in rough water, boating weather warnings concept.

What Does a Small Craft Advisory Mean?

Boating in bad weather can put you and others at risk, but not every boater knows what to look for in the weather forecast. If you're under a small craft advisory—which can indicate rough seas and choppy conditions, along with wind and rain—you might want…

Several people in the front of a boat, boat weight limits concept.

What Does a Boat's Capacity Plate Indicate?

Safe, enjoyable boating comes from paying attention to the details, from ensuring your passengers wear the right life jackets to understanding how a boat performs in different conditions. One of the most essential considerations on the water is whether you're overloading your vessel. Boat operators need…

Orange sound horns on top of a boat, ship horn signals concept.

Ship Horn Signals: What They Mean for Boaters

Responsible boating requires more than safety equipment—maritime communication skills are essential as well. In addition to navigating your journey, wearing a life jacket, and packing a first aid kit, you must be comfortable with ship horn signals. You may need to use ship horn signals…

Boats moving toward and away from an inlet, avoiding a boat accident concept.

How to Avoid a Boat Accident

If you want to learn how to avoid a boat accident and injuries on the water, dive into cases from the past where things went wrong. We have decades of data to learn from. These stats tell us: How do we know this? For 66…