As recreational fishing is one of the most popular outdoor activities in the United States, boating has also become one of many anglers’ favorite pastimes. Nothing’s better than spending a whole day on the water trying to catch the trophy fish you’ve always dreamed of, right?
The problem with boating, however, is that it isn’t particularly safe. There are some guidelines and regulations that everyone should abide by, but these are often ignored, whether on purpose or not. The fatality rate of 5.9 deaths per 100,000 on recreational vessels registered in 2016 shows that both fatal accidents and those involving injuries are on the rise.
In 2016 alone, over 700 people died, and more than 2900 were injured while engaging in boating activities, with the total number of accidents being 4463. 80% of all of the fatalities were cases of people who have drowned. Over eighty percent of all of these individuals were not wearing a life jacket at the time of their accidents, which brings us to the point of this article
To cut it short, we have come up with a list of three items that are essential when you’re going boating, whether you plan to engage in angling or not. Just make sure you take these with you and protect both yourself and your family. It’s better to be safe than sorry, they say, and we couldn’t agree more.
- A regular life jacket
Life jackets should be mandatory in all boating situations as they can get you out of trouble both conveniently and efficiently. Some models are made to be permanently buoyant, and these choices are designed primarily for kids who need to be protected continuously.
Models for adults can be either inflated on the spot using a manual, standard automatic, or hammar method, or can be classified as 50N buoyancy aids and be designed to speak to the needs of competent swimmers and those engaging in water sports like jet skiing, kayaking, and a variety of others.
Because of all the fishing boat accessories we’ve checked out during our research, life jackets are by far the most affordable and convenient ones, they should be an essential piece of equipment for anyone who gets on a boat.
- A fire extinguisher
You’re probably thinking “Why would I bring a fire extinguisher along when I’m surrounded by water?”. If you don’t know by now, there are several types of fires, including liquid and energized, and it’s a bad idea to use water to try to extinguish them. So, we suggest getting a portable model that weighs in at under three pounds, and that has been approved by the US Coast Guard. Most models cost around twenty dollars, so you won’t even have to spend a fortune to get a quality one.
- A first aid kit
Every boating trip calls for a complete first aid kit. There’s no way of knowing when an accident might happen, and instead of panicking and asking yourself what you’re supposed to do time and again, there are productive ways of dealing with the situation. Some kits come with as many as 100 pieces and more. Many are lightweight and compact, and may even feature things like a compass, a light-stick, as well as a rescue whistle.
