
Boats and personal watercrafts (PWCs) are recreational items that can be enjoyed year-round. During the summer, California Boating License Online hanging out on the lake is a great way to relax and spend time with friends. In the winter, many people enjoy the feel of a fresh, crisp breeze in their face. However, boats and PWCs can be dangerous. Here are some key things to help you stay safe while on the water.
First, before you go out on the water, there are several things that you can do to protect you and your passengers. Make sure that the craft is properly maintained and outfitted. This can mean double-checking your paint and running lights in case you are going to be out at night. Also, if you own a boat, most states require you to carry as many life jackets as you will have people on board. Additionally, many states have laws that state that kids 10 and under must wear a life jacket at all times.
Before you take a crew out on your boat or PWC, you should talk to your passengers about their swimming skills. If you are taking someone out who is unable to swim, they should consider wearing a life jacket at all times. Thus, if there is an unpredictable fall from the boat, they can have help in keeping their head above the water. You should always wear a life jacket while on a PWC.
Next, alcohol can be just as dangerous for boat and PWC drivers as it is for auto drivers. Boating while intoxicated, or a BUI, is an increasingly common crime. States have various restriction on drinking and driving a watercraft. Most outlaw blood alcohol concentrations, or BACs, above .08 or sometimes .10. However, this can change depending on the age of the person or the capacity under which they are operating the machine. For example, commercial boat operators are sometimes held to stricter restrictions than recreational drivers.
Also, you can make sure that your passengers know how to make themselves obvious to other people on the water. Online Boater Education Course Ca It can sometimes be difficult for a boat or PWC driver to see people in the water. Thus, if you have people tubing, wake boarding, water skiing, etc., you should ask them to wave their arms if they are floating in the water. This helps other drivers to see the person so that they can avoid running over them.
As a driver of a boat or PWC, you should always remain vigilant for both your passengers and those around you. However, sometimes you cannot control the actions of other people out on the water. Unsafe driving and inattention on behalf of other operators can result in injuries and even death for you and your friends.