4th of July Boating Safety Tips

We received an email from Mercury Marine this week which had a few good tips for keeping safe while boating this Wednesday. So we decided to share those tips with you below.

BOATING SAFETY TIPS

• Before and during operation, make sure everyone on your boat is in the proper passenger position. Sit down and hold on. You don’t want your passengers to be in a position that could result in them falling overboard. Also, don't sit or stand at the front of a moving pontoon boat.
• Always wear your lifejacket. It can save your life. The majority of boating fatalities involve people who drown without a lifejacket on.
• Watch out for the propeller. Shut off the engine whenever anyone is in the water near your boat. Placing the engine in neutral is not enough.
• Use your lanyard cut-off switch. Things can happen quickly on the water. Make sure your engine will shut off if you are not in the operator’s position.

Have a happy and safe 4th of July!

It's Time To Grill

Boating and grilling – they seem to go hand and hand. It all goes together with that ‘summertime’ feel.  And of course, grilled food is healthier for you. But besides all that, grilling on a boat is all part of the adventure of boating.

I’m sure most of us can use common sense and know that you’re not going to lug a huge stainless steel gas grill on a boat. In fact, there are special grills that are specifically made for boaters. You’ll want to make sure you have one that is best suited for your boat and space limits. Keep in mind that grilling on land is dangerous, so grilling on a boat is even more of a hazard – not necessarily always because of the grill, but because of the limited space on a boat and the constant movement of being on the water.

Plan ahead

First of all, plan ahead. Before you step foot on your boat, make sure you have planned out everything that you’ll need – be it food items, pots and pans, drinks, etc. Remember, you have a small space to work with, so try to only bring one of everything that you need (unless, of course, it’s eating utensils, etc). This won’t only make it easier for you to grill, it will also be easier for clean up.  You should take some time to pre-plan your meals and stick with those meals that you already have the cooking items for onboard. Never count on catching fish, if that is indeed what you want to fix. Fish should always be considered a ‘bonus’ meal or something to eat in place of a non-perishable meal. Also, check your propane tank for leaks or damage before setting off. Nothing could be more frustrating than trying to start your meal without gas for your grill -- or worse, having a leak and lighting a match nearby.


Grill at the dock or at anchor

It’s safer to cook when the boat is docked. You won’t lose your food or have to worry about someone falling on the grill should a random wave come along. Speaking of which, make sure all of your cooking utensils and pans are in a zippered bag/back pack or secure cabinet, whether you’re docked or not.  Your boats movements are unpredictable and loose items can be a potential hazard! If you must find that adventure out in the open water, make sure you're anchor is set to help keep you from moving about.


No glass allowed

Don’t bring glass on board! Many bowls, cups, and drink or cooking bottles (such as olive oil) are glass and should not be brought onboard. Should you find that you need a bowl or container, always use something that is plastic – put condiments such as ketchup or cooking oils in portable plastic containers. This would go along with the ‘planning ahead’ point above. When making sure you have all of the proper cooking equipment or extras, if you find that you have something glass, run to your nearest store to find a plastic alternative. It’s not worth the risk of having that glass break or having someone step on a loose glass bottle – especially if you’re hours away from land.


You'll have a limited supply of water

Conserve water as much as possible while cooking and cleaning. Remember, there are a lot of different uses for water on your boat. Bring hand sanitizer to wash your hands with periodically, and sanitizing wipes to wipe down surfaces. Don’t run the faucet while cleaning up after your meal. Reuse water where possible, and bring bottled water to drink and use when needed.


What are you going to grill?

You might wonder what types of things to cook when on a boat – again, keeping in mind that you have very limited space. Some things that you might consider grilling are ka-bobs. Pre-make your ka-bobs and put them in large 1gallon plastic storage bags. Or, consider doing the same with chicken or anything that needs to be marinated – put your pieces of meat in large plastic containers or storage bags (which are more flexible) along with your marinade. By the time dinner comes, they’ll be perfectly marinated and you can toss the plastic bags out. Easy clean up! Fish is an easy meal as well. Seasoning your fish with simple salt and pepper or old bay seasoning, then putting it on the grill, makes for a delicious and memorable dinner for the entire group. Simple, but oh so delish!  Tacos and single dish meals are also easy when on a boat. Put all of your toppings or condiments in separate containers before getting on your boat or leaving dock -- it makes your life much easier, especially if your toppings need to be sliced and diced. Always make sure your meat is cold and on ice – never cook meat that has been allowed to come to room temperature (who knows how long it’s been warm!)  And remember that leftovers aren’t any good either unless placed on ice after your meal.


Have a great cookout

Be safe on your boat and take all precautionary measures, including an up to date fire extinguisher. Anything can go wrong in under a second on a boat, whether you’re playing with heat or not! Check at you have a small first aid kit with burn cream. This will come in handy for sunburn or an accidental burn from the grill. Always be prepared and always plan ahead – and don’t forget the food!

Tips for Viewing Fourth of July Fireworks from Your Boat

Open waters and open skies make for the best fireworks display. There’s no better place than laid back on your boat with your friends and family while watching fireworks on the 4th of July. But there are a few tips you should consider that will heighten the excitement of the fireworks, and to make sure you’re taking the proper safety precautions while on the water.

First of all, you should check the US Coast Guard’s local notice to mariner’s website for any special instructions for boaters during the big event. Be sure to follow these instructions – they are not only mandatory to keep you safe, but to keep other’s safe as well. Make sure your boat is equipped with the correct safety equipment and check that everything is functioning normally. Life jackets should already be on board, but if you have any newcomers or irregulars that will be joining you on your boat for the special event, you’ll need to be sure you have extra life jackets.

When looking for the perfect place to drop anchor, you’ll want to make sure you anchor downwind of the show. If you anchor your boat upwind, you may not hear the fireworks very well – and we all know, there’s nothing better than feeling and hearing the powerful boom of fireworks!

Find your location and anchor early. You can take the extra time to eat, play games, or just relax before the fireworks begin. You can also take this time to make sure your anchor is set properly, and see that your anchor lights are on and working. Training your newer passengers on board about the normal procedures and emergency procedures is another great thing to take up this extra time. Better safe than sorry!

When it comes to being patriotic on the water, many people enjoy a nice ‘drink’. However, it’s best that you not allow alcohol on board while in the middle of a body of water (read the Preventable Tragedy). Of course, the captain definitely shouldn't drink as it can impair his ability to react or impair his vision in general. But passengers should also be warned about alcohol on board. If an emergency should arise, passengers may not be able to react as quickly as needed. They could also lose their balance more easily than if they were sober. Passengers under the influence of alcohol or any type of drug can also distract the captain of the boat.

When the show is finished and it’s time for the festivities to end, take your time when pulling up anchor and leaving. Remember, there are many other boaters on the water going the same exact direction you are. There’s no rush, so take your time and be cautious. There may be other boaters not following proper safety guidelines, or worse, they may be driving under the influence of alcohol. Rushing back to dock isn’t worth an accident. Enjoy this relaxing moment with your loved ones and cruise slowly back to land.

Bonus: Top National In-Water Destinations For July 4 Fireworks Displays

There’s nothing worse than being distracted by lights or obnoxious noises while watching your fireworks show, so be courteous to other boaters.  Don’t play with flashlights, spotlights, or large lights of any kind. Also, if you’re playing music on board, make sure it’s not too loud for other boaters to hear. Just because you like a particular kind of music, doesn’t mean others want to listen to it.

From all your friends at Pier 33; have fun, be safe, be courteous, and most of all… enjoy your 4th of July!!

Ready to Launch Your Trailer Boat – 5 No-No’s

So, you’re ready to put that nice shiny boat in the water and enjoy your day. But not so quickly – there are some steps you need to take before backing that trailer down the ramp to launch your boat into the water.

Marina’s, lakes and other bodies of water normally have launch ramps for boaters. It is the boater’s responsibility to make sure the launch procedure goes smoothly and without incident. So you’ll want to make sure you know good and well what you’re doing, and how to properly do it.

There are several different things to take into account that will help you make this process quick and painless -- making sure all of your personal items are on your boat before launching it is one of those things. That includes clothes, fishing poles, food, drinks, coolers, etc. Also, making sure your boat trailer has been properly maintained will help eliminate problems.

Here are a few more things to think about before launching.

1. Don’t wait to practice backing up a boating trailer down a ramp while other people are waiting for you. A busy public boat launch ramp is NOT the place to learn how to back up a boat trailer. Don’t rush!! It’s a fact that boater’s who rush the process are normally the ones who cause the most damage (or lose their boat from not concentrating). Be calm and get plenty of practice before the time comes to launch or retrieve your boat (whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned boater).

2. Did I forget to put the drain plug in? – Yeah, you’ll want to make sure that lovely little invention is securely in place before launching. And when you’re sure that it’s securely in place, check again…just to be extra sure.

3.  Never launch your boat by yourself. It is much easier to launch a boat when you have help. Your helper can drive the vehicle and trailer away while you manage the boat that you’ve just put into the water. There are so many things that can go wrong while in the launch process – it’s best to have a buddy or adult family member there to help you in case of an accident and so the process goes along much more smoothly.

4. Don’t forget to tie your boat to the dock before pulling your truck and trailer away. There’s nothing worse than going to park your vehicle and coming back to a boat in the middle of deep waters…with no way to get to it! Make sure you tie a bowline to a dock before launching your boat into the water.

5. And last but not least, don’t forget about your engine. Your engine will need to remain raised during the launching process. Not raising your engine during a launch and/or in shallow waters can cause major unwanted damage. When you launch your boat, slowly motor over to the dock that you’ve attached your bowline to. Once you’re in deeper water, you can lower your engine. 

The launch and retrieval process can be so simple, quick, and easy if you make sure you pay attention and follow these simple steps. Even the most experienced boater can forget to tie his boat to a dock, or even un-tie his boat from his trailer. But no matter what the issue, know that you’re not alone! Making a boating launch/retrieval check list may be a good idea. Or better yet, print out this blog and keep it in your vehicle so that you’ll have it at all times when you’re ready for a fun day on the water!

What's your biggest challenge when launching your boat?

Create Your Own Boating Movie on Facebook with Movie Maker

Ever dreamed of starring in a movie? Well, now there's an App for that!

Discover Boating's new Movie Maker App lets you create a movie featuring highlights from your boating life right from our Facebook page! Tell a story or simply share the joy of boating with your family and friends. It's quick, easy and FUN!

As the "Director" you can preview your movie to rearrange photos or edit captions. When you're finished you can post it to your profile or download it. You can even share your "blockbuster" with Discover Boating for a chance to have it featured on the Discover Boating Facebook page!

Star in your own boating movie now.