Boat safety for new boaters. 5 basic tips for safe boating

Boat safety. This video talks about five basic tips for safe boating. Before you go out on a boat for the first time, there are five things you should be aware of. Too often people think it's just like driving a car, but it isn't. I try to make boating tips for beginners, and this video highlights five things that can catch a new boater by surprise. If your boat breaks down, and they do more often than cars, you can't just pull over and walk and you might not know who to call or what do. This video highlights just the basics about thinking about safety and planning so that your boating is safe boating!

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
00:40 Boats can sink
01:09 Boats can breakdown
02:01 There are no stores on the way
02:28 Boats use a lot of fuel
03:20 Bad weather can be deadly
04:31 Knowing what to do if you're sinking
05:16 What to do if you breakdown
05:44 Bring everything you might need
06:11 The rule of thirds for boat fuel
06:50 Keeping an eye on the weather

#boatsafety #newboatertips #safeboating

▶︎▶︎▶︎Playlists About Boats

▶︎▶︎▶︎Boat Engines & Motors Playlists

▶︎▶︎▶︎ Boat Repairs & Projects Playlists

▶︎▶︎▶︎New Boater Playlists

Sound effects and additional music is copyright free from iMovie

[Why-on]

Enjoy watching someone talk knowledgeably about boating who isn’t flaunting the newest & fanciest boat and engine.

[christinafidance]

My husband is a marine mechanic so that REALLY helps to make me feel comfortable! He keep spare parts and filters, tools.... he even patched a leak in the hull and got us home safely. Oh and also, people often think (just as I once did) that if your boat breaks down, you can just drop an anchor and wait for help.... BUT a boat can only handle the waves properly if it’s under power.... once the engines stop, the boat immediately swings into the worse position possible and you end up getting broadsided and bobbing like a damn cork!!! My husband had to go down and change a fuel filter once while we were in choppy seas and it took him so much longer just because we were rocking so violently!!! (By the way, rough seas often stir up sentiment in the fuel tanks and causes this to happen to begin with!)

[rafaelribeiro]

Wayne, you are the boat Guy. Thank you very very much, all your videos are awesome.

[JustRobert]

Thanks! Good tips Wayne. Always be prepared.

[henryzabel]

As a life long sport fisherman and former rescue diver, you may wake up newcomers to boating and thanks for that . I suggest a bit more, but much of that depends on where you are boating . As a fisherman I can not believe the number of boats with a single main engine that do not have a kicker motor . If a small boat and small outboard I suggest some oars for power down situations, NOT a single paddle . Even an electric trolling motor is better than nothing . Preferably a kicker engine with it's own gas tank in case main tank has an issue . Always install a water - fuel seperator . Do not buy gas for your boat at a gas station unless it is alcohol free . If you do it tends to collect water in your tank until it will overwhelm your separator . On bigger water I suggest a hand held VHF and a marine GPS . Even on small boats I suggest a secondary bilge pump, often the factory units are so small they are almost worthless . Needless to say a flare gun and a line suitable for a tow is recommended along with a fire extinguisher . On small boats with an outboard or even many inboards they is a dead man's tether, USE IT! I personally have performed a run away boat rodeo multiple time, endangering the operator and us rescue personnel .

[stuartfraserx]

Recently I restored and converted a 1994 15ft boston whaler rage to an outboard motor. New motor and mostly everything else except the gas tank. Yesterday I went out with my dog and I was very low on fuel which I didn’t know at the moment (gauge was not working properly it showed half a tank left) in reality I had only 2 or 3 gallons left and it seems there was a lot of residue inside the old gas tank from the restoration and because it’s and old tank. Fuel filter got blocked (with all the residue concentrated in the 2 gallons of fuel) and engine stopped receiving fuel. Was out longer than planned, about 3 hours waiting for someone to go rescue me, it started to get dark. No water, no food, my anchor and good weather saved me. I was very calmed and relaxed, my dog knew something was up and was very nervous. I’m almost 40 and had to call dad, imagine his face… I learned my lesson. Loved your video by the way.

[herbrankin]

thank you I think you have the cleanest tools in any garage i have ever been in....

[mikenagy]

Wayne, thanks for the great tips. The weather you get on VHF is practically useless, as you have to wait while they give every location but your own. If you miss the part where they give your location you have to wait all over again. I am surprised you didn't mention "Windy", which is the BEST weather you can get for a boat. As a sailor I always take the weather into consideration before leaving the dock, usually the night before and the morning of my passage.
About anchoring, you won't be anchoring in anything deeper than about 50 feet, as your boat needs too much scope to stay put at that depth. And please people, anchor from the bow so your boat faces into the wind. The bow is the strongest part of your boat and can take quite a pounding, while if you anchor from the stern you will soon be swimming.
I'm sure the popularity of kicker motors is partly due to feeling safe, if your main motor breaks down you can limp home with the kicker. With sailing I always had the sails to rely on if the motor gave out but now that I have a fishing boat there is no back without a kicker.

[a_]

I normally don't leave a comment nor like or subscribe, exceptionally this time, I have done all those steps, Great video, straight to the point, professional and down to earth man sharing his life experience that could potentially help lives in the ocean, appreciate what you doing.

[jennyleemcgee]

WOW This really helped thank you.Time to go out on the water.

[hankschrader]

And just an FYI if you are in radio (vhf) range of a USCG station and have an issue which may seem small at the time with potential to get bad real bad (I've seen it happen 1st hand) call them! and they will radio monitor your situation without having to launch resources. And if they do need to launch resources they will. I spent 5 yrs in the USCG 2 on a buoy tender in Alaska and 3 at a motorlifeboat station in Tillamook Oregon. Radio watch, boat coxswain and law enforcement boarding officer

[CHUNKYCATSFISHING]

Absolutely fantastic video thank you for sharing my friend

[dougschemmel]

Another great video... keep them coming.

[youdonthavetoreadthispost.]

Carry a drift anchor to keep your bow into the waves and slow your drift in deep water. Any port in a storm. Be sure to batten down the hatches. Watch the tides and avoid wind against tide, especially outgoing. Know your boat. Self bailing is best. It may not sink but you might not stay in it. Stay safe!

[jeffmckeehan]

Wayne,
thank you for another informative video.

[darrylmcleman]

I towed a boat in with a crowd of tourists from Japan because the captain trusted the fuel guage. Never trust marine fuel guages. Dipstick if possible. Also most boats in Sooke B.C. where I live run an auxiliary engine. Cheers from Canada

[peanutbutterisfu]

I have always owned used boats. When I buy one the first thing I do is go through it. I rebuild the carburetor, send the alternator & starter to get rebuilt, new fuel filter, fuel line if necessary, new spark plugs & wires, coil, points if it has, make sure fuel tank isn’t contaminated, new sea pump, check all hoses and clamps, remove the drive to check u-joints (if it has) everything else like the bellows shift boot, change gear oil and grease everything. I install a bilge pump that is much bigger than what’s in it I go way overkill to the point I have to make a bigger hole in the transom, 2 batteries, change all bulbs to led only to save battery power, have a radio, quality life jackets.

People think I’m crazy for going this far like my one buddy that got caught in 10ft swells and waves in my 18ft boat that actually measured 16ft. We were in the river heading to the lake when the waves in the river started getting big which never happens because it’s 1/2 mile to the lake and has break walls. Well because my boat was so small and I was stuck between other big boats by the time I could turn around it was too late the waves were to big coming too fast. The waves came over the windshield. My girlfriend and his girlfriend are crying, he’s scared, everyone telling me to turn around and I said put ur life jackets on, we can’t turn on a wave we will capsize so let me drive. We get past the walls into the lake and I had a quick chance to turn around and then a 40ft sailboat was damn near ontop of us so I throttled up just enough to ride the wave and we got back safe. If i didn’t have a huge bilge pump we likely would have sank and if the engine didn’t run so well we definitely would have sank not being able to ride the waves and if i didn’t know how to drive in rough water we would have sank.

I know this is a long post but people don’t understand how easy it is to get into a situation. Not only do I go through my boats for safety but when u go on ur boat it’s for fun you don’t wanna break down for that reason too.

[TerraFirmaX]

watching your video made me realize "I really need to go clean my tools".

[leesmith]

I have actually ran out of fuel before and that is a horrible horrible feeling you are stuck we were finally able to flag down a boat and get 80 home but it was not a very pleasant experience so mr. Wayne is Right always take plenty of fuel

[hankschrader]

I must confess you wiping down your wrenches reminded me I have a 5200 coated ratchet I still have in my toolbox 😆