As we get closer to Spring, many of us are getting ready to launch our boats for the season. It’s important to remember to take care of the basics prior to launch to help ensure that we have a safe, trouble-free, and fun season on the water.

The examples I list below are just some of the things that I do and personally feel are important. This is by no means an exhaustive list, and as always, I recommend following the manufacturer’s recommendations for your vessel.

So now that most of us have our boats out of the water and properly winterized, its time to start to make some list for next year.

Recently, I was asked by a client what type of tools he should carry with him for a day on the water. I thought this was a great question and started to think about the best answer I could provide to my client. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that although the question is relatively simple, the answer is not.

As we approach the peak of the local boating season, I wanted to share an interesting statistic from Boat U.S. citing the top 5 reasons that boaters request a tow. 

First off, all of us at Happy Captains Boating Instruction hope all of our followers are safe and following state and federal guidelines.

Many of you are anxious to get your boats in the water, and we don’t blame you! But this is a great time for you and your family to conduct a pre-season audit of your boat. I recommend emptying everything out and taking an inventory of what you have. First, start with the very basics. See my checklist below:

Unfortunately, most of us don’t get to spend as much time as we would like to on our boats. That means that our pride and joy spends a lot of time alone at the dock. Whether you use your boat daily, weekly, or only a few times each year, it’s important to know how to secure it at the dock. Below I will outline some recommended procedures for securing your vessel in a safe and efficient way so you can have ease of mind while you are off the water.

Today’s PFD’s (personal flotation devices) come in many different styles and designs to fit any boating need. And keep in mind that as per the USCG anyone under the age of 13 must wear the proper flotation device while the vessel is underway (anytime the boat is not anchored or tied to the dock whether under power or not).