Boating Safety

Boat Parade Safety

Use these tips from the Water Sports Foundation for safety at a boat parade.

Understanding the Basics of Boat Trim

Properly trimming your boat can balance efficiency with a smooth ride in a way that keeps your crew safe and comfortable.

The Importance of Wearing a Life Jacket

Choosing and wearing the proper life jacket is the best way to ensure that you and your crew are protected in an emergency.

Planning for a Boat-Trailer Breakdown

With the proper planning and right tools you can minimize the risks associated with a boat-trailer breakdown.

Boat Safety Gear and Tips

Everyone remembers to bring the fishing rods and bait when going fishing. Similarly, wakeboarders always have a tow rope handy. But the most important items on a boat are safety gear. You never know when an emergency situation will occur. Life jackets are mandatory, and should be worn on the boat. But beyond that, emergency beacons, first-aid kits, life rafts, flares and other products might be vitally important to have on your boating excursions. Check out today’s available boating safety gear.

What To Look For When Buying a Compass for Your Boat

15 things you should consider when buying a compass for your boat.

6 Tips For Safe Boating from the US Coast Guard

Boat safe this holiday weekend–and every day.

Proper Boat Trailer Tire Pressure

Tow safely by ensuring the right trailer tire pressure for your boat.

Surviving Lightning Strikes While Boating

What to do in a Lightning Storm on a Boat

Check out these 29 strategies for boating in a thunderstorm.

How to Keep Your Crew Comfortable and Safe

It’s not just about safety. Crew comfort counts too.

How to Prepare Your Boat for a Hurricane

How to Secure Your Boat for a Hurricane

Tips to protect your boat from an approaching hurricane.

How To Boat Safely at Any Speed

We ride along with the Miss Geico Racing team to learn how to boat safely at any speed.

U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard is your life-saver on the water. When an accident or health issue leaves you dead in the water—something that a tow service can’t handle—the U.S. Coast Guard will be there to save you. When a boater doesn’t return home from a trip, the Coast Guard boats and helicopters are the first ones out there searching for the missing person. The U.S. Coast Guard has an entire site dedicated to boating and safety tips that all boaters should be familiar with. Safety gear, navigation, seamanship, emergency procedures and safety tips are all covered in detail.

Boating Safety Tips

Find everything you need to know about boating safety with these tips from the U.S. Coast Guard and other boating experts.

Boat Handling

When you buy a boat, no one explains how to best captain and run the boat. You probably took a boating course at some point in your life, but that’s more of a “rules of the road” course than actual boat handling. Thankfully, Boating can help you! Our boat handling section has loads of articles teaching you how to handle your boat, including seamanship, docking, riding tips, along with plenty of other categories. Search through it, and you’ll likely find what you were looking for.