All-Ages Safety Guide for Boats and Yachts

Anglers both new and experienced have so many reasons to enjoy their hobby: the gentle rock of the waves, the splash of the surf, the cawing of gulls overhead. These are all wonderfully simple joys of being out on a boat, but above them all, it's the tug on their lines that makes anglers' hearts quicken. The feeling of reeling in the first catch of the day or the "big one" after countless casts coming up empty is quite unlike anything else and so exciting! But with that fun and excitement comes risk, and personal responsibility is important in mitigating that risk. Understanding and practicing proper boating safety is the first step in ensuring that you and your fellow anglers are able to have an enjoyable time out on the water.

Boating requires alertness, attentiveness, focus, and preparation. When you are driving a boat, you are responsible for the craft and those on board. Knowing the proper safety protocols and boating safety laws is crucial and helps to avoid boating accidents. Reviewing a boating safety checklist before you head out onto the water is very helpful in ensuring that you have taken all of the necessary precautions.

• Water Markers: This document from the U.S. Coast Guard provides detailed information about the water markers that boaters will encounter. Learn what the colors and symbols on these markers mean and what you should do when you come across them.
• Stay Safe Out on the Water: Recreational boating is a wonderful family activity, but before everyone gets on board, take the time to study up on what you should do to have a safe and enjoyable trip.
• How to Inspect and Inflate a Life Jacket: A life jacket is the single most important safety item you have on your boat. Make sure you know how to use it properly.
• You Need a Life Jacket: Life jackets save lives, and you should always insist on people wearing them when they are on your boat. Here are ten reasons why they are so important.
• A Boating Safety Guide: This guide has a ton of good safety information that you need to know.
• Boating Knots: Boating knots are an important part of making sure your craft is safe and properly secured. Here are five basic boating knots that you should know.
• Safety When You Bring a Friend Boating: It's so much fun to bring a friend with you on a boating or fishing trip. But to make sure that you and they are prepared, there are some key things that you should know and do.
• Boating Education Study Guide: This comprehensive study guide offers a lot of information on boating safety.
• Man Overboard! Learn what to do in the event that you or someone in your group falls off of your yacht.
• Fishing Safety Info: Fishing can be great fun for all ages, but it's important to do it safely. These tips can help you and your family to have a fun fishing trip.
• Boating Safety Equipment: Making sure that your boat is equipped with the right safety equipment is crucial to ensuring your safety and well-being when you're out on the water.
• Boating Pre-Departure Safety Checklist: Before casting off on your next adventure, it's important to run through a safety checklist and communicate safety information to those on board.
• Boating Safety Tips for Families: Boating with children requires preparation. These tips can help to keep you and any young children on board safe and able to enjoy the experience of being out on the water.
• Bad-Weather Boating: The weather on the water can change quickly, and it's important to be prepared before you find yourself in the middle of a bad storm.
• Boating on Rough Water: Operating a boat in rough waters can be nerve-wracking. Before you find yourself in a tough spot, review these tips.
• Bobber the Water Safety Dog: This fun coloring and activity book can teach you everything you need to know about water safety.
• Boating Safety: National Boating Week is a great time to learn about and practice boating safety. These ten boating tips are the perfect place to start.
• Fill Out a Float Plan: The U.S. Coast Guard encourages all boaters to leave a detailed float plan on land with someone trusted; that way, should there be an emergency, all of the information to assist in a rescue effort is readily available.
• A Boating and Water Safety Resource Guide: This resource guide offers a variety of fun ways to learn about water and boating safety.
• Whale Tale Lessons: The Red Cross teaches us how to be water-smart and safe on this page.
• Boating and Beach Safety: A day spent at the beach is fun whether you're in the water or on the sand. Make sure it stays that way by following these simple safety tips.
• AquaSmart Activity Booklet: With lessons and activities on water and boating safety for grades K-8, there's something for most school-aged children inside this printable booklet.
• Safety in the Water: As fun as it is to be around and in all different types of water, safety has to come first. Learn a bit about all different types of swimming and water safety here, including whitewater rafting and canoeing.
• Boating This Summer? Before you get on board a yacht, make sure you have a sense of how to keep yourself safe.
• Prevent Drowning Deaths: Drowning is a risk of being in and around water, and it's important to know what to do to minimize your risk and the risk of those around you.
• Jet-Skiing Safety Tips: Boating and riding on a Jet Ski are a ton of fun when they are done safely. Before you hop on a watercraft this summer, review what you need to do to enjoy it safely.
• Water Safety ABCs: Water safety is as easy as the ABCs when you follow these basics.
• River and Lake Water Safety: Rivers and lakes are very different from pools and require different safety practices.
• Boats and Waterways for Children: Explore the opportunities that boats and waterways offer young children and how they can enjoy them safely.
• Do's and Don'ts of Water Safety: This easy list of do's and don'ts can help to keep both adults and kids safe as they enjoy the water this summer.