Recreational boats can vary in size and function, making it important to know what kind of recreational boat you have.
Most recreational boats are between 30 and 50 feet in length, with 20 to 30 feet being the average. This is a good size for enjoying the water or just taking some watersports out!
However, there are specific types of boats intended for specific purposes. For example, sailboats are not intended for Republican presidential candidates to use as a campaign bus. Other examples include kayaks intended for nonwater sports or rowboats meant for short travels.
While only experienced boaters can tell if a boat is intended for water or land transportation, there are some basic checks that should be performed.
Manufacturer responsibility
Most boat manufacturers offer a pre- departure check, or pre-check, of your boat. This is typically done during the manufacturer’s annual maintenance program or during special event programming by the boat manufacturer.
This check is designed to make sure that the boats navigation system and other equipment function as they should before departure. A recent addition to this check is for water resistant material protection for sensitive electronics.
If a waterproofing protection is added, then it must be maintained in place throughout the check. The portable underwater camera I checked last week was protected with a jacket made of zippers!
This check should be done annually to make sure everything is operating properly and that anything needed repair or replacement has been taken care of. Yearly checks are also recommended to keep equipment up to date with new materials and equipment.
Government responsibility
In the US, recreational boats are classified as medium to large. This means that they are capable of carrying a few days of fun without being very practical for overnight stays.
For example, a boat about 20 feet in length would not have enough space to comfortably park a full-size bed and other supplies. Because this is a recreational boat, it is not required to have safety equipment such as an anchor light or water purification systems.
Some people blame the owner for not performing the pre-departure check on a recreational boat, but who is responsible? The owner or person in charge of the vessel at the time of departure.
The government entity that requires this check is called URS (United States Coast Guard). They require this check for all personal vessels that exceed six feet in length.
Experienced boat operator responsibility
While boat pre-ownership classes and boat lessons can help newcomers understand how to perform the pre- departure check of a recreational boat, it is also important for experienced operators to perform this check on new boats and boats with upgraded equipment every year until they are satisfied that the equipment is safe to use.
This annual check is called a certification or license review and takes place at the annual state required review or certificate update. The review can be hard, taking a long time to get through all of the questions.
But it is important to do at least this check every year because if you miss an answer or question, then you will be out of date information that has been outdated over the years.
Boat certification comes in many forms such as past their prime, safety updates needed, etc. After getting your certification, you must undergo a review where you are checked on and updated upon.
New boat operator responsibility
As mentioned earlier, Recreational Boats must have a Pre-Departure Check (PDC) performed by the boat’s manufacturer or retailer prior to leaving the boat impounds facility.
This check is performed to ensure the boat and its equipment is fully functional and safe, as well as to make sure the PDC operator has adequate knowledge and skills for the PDA.
The check requires that the operator have a comprehensive understanding of all equipment on board, as well as knowledge of how to use them in an emergency. This emergency understanding is important because if something unexpected happens during the pre- departure check, the person responsible for it will need to be able to respond appropriately.
Responsibilities regarding passengers
Before a trip, you should do a quick check of your boat to make sure it is in good condition. While boating, you may come across boats that are in poor condition. A quick check can prevent this.
During this check, you should take the time to examine and determine the responsibilities of each party on the boat. If one person has more responsibility than the other, then that person should contact the responsible party to discuss how they will compensate for their lack of responsibility.
One important part of the responsibility check is determining who is responsible for what. In your boat party, who pays for what? These questions can help find someone with enough sense to be responsible for something else`s boat!
Lastly, determining who gets liability coverage depends on what type of boat and who is liable for what.
Know your abilities and the conditions
When you go boating, you should know how much water you can boat and the conditions you are running in. These conditions include:
depth of water, submarines, underwater installations, open water, and beachfront. Some conditions are more stable than others.
If you know of a submerged enemy installation, for example, it would be more stable than open water with occasional showers. If you know there is going to be heavy rain during your trip, then stability would include being able to maintain a level of protection from precipitation.
Conditioning your boat is one of the most important things who performance check before departure.
Check the equipment regularly
When boat owners go boating, they usually check their boat before leaving the house. This is a good habit to get into as it is before each trip to make sure everything is up to par.
Look out for your fellow boaters and obey the rules of the waterway
When boats are near each other, they must stay a minimum of 5 feet from one another on a canoeing or boating waterway. This includes when one boat is docking or departing another.
When two boats are preparing to leave together, such as when one boat is leaving and the other is preparing to go, there is more space between the boats. This is due to the fact that two boats together can be dangerous if it breaks away.
If one boat has an emergency signal such as a loud alarm or a flashing light, the other must respond immediately. If two ships are in close proximity, one can approach the other from behind!
Texting and talking on phones while in water is responsible for only and pays attention to others.
