5 Tips to Stay BOATsmart! this Summer

I’ve just come back from a wonderful week at our family cottage, and a highlight for all of us is the time we spent on the water. Sure, we love the campfires, board games, croquet matches and lounging on the beach, but year after year my kids look forward to waterskiing and wake boarding; fishing and tubing; and exploring the lakes by powerboat.

The timing was perfect to receive an email from the folks at BOATsmart, sharing their five tips to keep your family safe this summer, and I’m passing them on to you (with bonus family vacation photos!)

Get Your BOATsmart! Operator card. All operators of motorized vessels require a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. Test your knowledge, learn boating safety skills and take the official Transport Canada Accredited exam at BOATsmart! I took the BOATSmart! course online last summer and haven’t been as proud of a test result since grade school.

Wear a Life Jacket. Such a simple tip, but did you know that 89% of people who drown while boating are not wearing a life jacket? Be sure that everyone on board is wearing an approved PFD before heading out on the water.

Don’t Drink and Boat. The effects of alcohol are up to four times greater on the water due to the motion of the craft, waves and the hot summer sun. Keep the beer on the pier, and water on the water. It’s simple and it saves lives. The only chances you should take are the ones like these brothers heading out together on the same tube!

Be Prepared. Every summer we pull the boat out of the river, trailer it over to the lake and spend a day exploring Lakes Muskoka, Rosseau and Joseph. It requires some preparation to pack towels, sunscreen, snacks, water, etc., but it’s always a fantastic day. It’s critical that we make sure the boat has all the required safety equipment , and you can find a full list as well as information about recreational boat insurance at BOATsmart! Assure.

Refresh Your Knowledge. Everyone, from the novice to the experience boater, can benefit from taking a BOATsmart! course. From emergency preparedness to right-of-way rules, you’ll learn everything you need to boat with confidence. If you already have your boating license but need a quick refresher, be sure to download the BOATsmart! CONNECT app complete with Free Animated Refresher lessons for iPhone and Android. Now that my 14 year old son is taking the tin boat out on his own, this is going to be an automatic requirement every summer.

For more information and boat safety advice visit the BOATSmart! site.

This post was sponsored by BOATSmart! Canada, but all opinions are my own.