Many people all over the globe share a passion for boating. And why not? It is incredibly purposeful and joyous at the same time. Meanwhile, boats come in various types, and buying them could be expensive. So, it is suggested that you check out new boat sales in Chattanooga, TN, to get the best deals. Nevertheless, who doesn’t love to sail through the Tennessee river!
Moreover, planning for a boating trip is super-important, and You must take all the necessary precautions. So, if you are a newbie or a tenured player, this article is for you. This article mentions all the essential things and equipment required for your boating trip. This will surely make things easy for you! Read on.
Factors to Be Considered
It would help if you remembered that all boating trips are varied and have different demands in terms of safety and security needs. So, try pondering over the below-mentioned pointers before you finalize the checklist for your boating trip:
- Determining whether the boat can handle the planned venture.
- Expected trip duration.
- Necessary Documentation.
- The number of passengers.
- Availability of navigational tools, maps, and GPS.
- Sea/water body and weather conditions.
Essential Items
Once you have found and bought the boat of your dreams from new boat sales in Chattanooga, TN, it’s time to take it on a sail! As such, the following are some non-negotiable items when you are on a boat trip. So, don’t forget to keep them.
Life Jackets
It would be best if you had flotation devices and life jackets in the boat to prevent users from drowning. Meanwhile, it is suggested to use a government-approved personal flotation device per passenger. Also, in case the boat is bigger than 16 feet, you should have a throwable type4 PFD.
Fuel and Oil
The oil tank must be full once you leave the deck. You should also keep extra oil and fuel for other boat parts in some safe cans. The fuel quantity should be enough to return to land safely, so do keep this in mind!
Basic First Aid Kit
Basic First Aid kits do not fall under the required safety items, but it is strongly recommended that you keep one in your boat. Once you are in the water, fast and easy access to help is a rarity. Meanwhile, some essentials in the first aid kit include CPR instruments, medicines for burns, fracture sprain, bleeding, and wound care.
Legal Documentation for the Captain and Boat
You should have legal documents before you launch the boat in the public waterways. By law, this refers to state registration for the boat. And if you do not have this registration, you may go to the corresponding website to receive a complete listing of the state agencies and how one can apply for the process.
Distress Signals
One of the essential items is distress signals such as air horns, whistles, or bells in the boat. They are an excellent means of communicating over huge distances and for alerting others in an emergency. Additionally, you can take a flare gun and use flares to produce distress signals.
You can also carry other items, such as spare parts, extra food, water, backup battery packages, dry bags, docking and anchoring equipment, and fire extinguishers. You should also have some cold-weather clothing and heating equipment to keep yourself warm if the temperature drops! With these pointers in mind and essential items in your boat, you will be assured of having a safe and great trip at all costs.
