Onboard Safety Discussion

After you get everyone on board, spend a few minutes telling all of them the rules for your boat. If your passengers know what you expect of them, they will be better able to prevent accidents, increase safety, and respond more effectively if there's an emergency. You should also conduct a mock training session with your passengers so they understand and know what to expect in an emergency situation.

• Give everyone their PFD and explain why they should wear one. If they don't put on their PFD, be sure they put it someplace they can get to it quickly in an emergency. Tell them if there is an emergency and you tell them to put on their PFD, they must immediately put it on.
• In small boats, tell everyone to stay in their seat. If they need to move around the boat, tell them to do so carefully. In larger boats, tell everyone when they move around the boat to use one hand to hold onto something attached to the boat.
• Show everyone where the fire extinguishers, first aid kit, visual distress signals, and other emergency equipment are located. Show the location of the emergency radio, and explain how to use it.
• If you have a toilet onboard, explain how it works.
• Tell them what will happen if the weather or water conditions turn bad.
• Appoint someone to take over the operation of the boat if something happens to you. Make sure they know how to operate the boat.
• Tell them what to do if someone falls overboard or if they fall overboard (see Chapter 6).
• Explain to them when and how the anchor will be used, and how to handle the lines when docking, undocking, and anchoring.
• Discuss any other rules that are specific to the areas in which you will be boating.