As a novice sailor, it’s important to have a firm understanding of basic boating know-how so you can safely enjoy your experience on the open water. Here we have assembled a few tips in two general areas of boating; knots and safety. Know how to do these steps before hitting the water this year.
Knots
Why are knots so important? Depending on what kind of boat you have, their importance can range from ensuring your very survival, to making sure your boat is still moored in the morning. Here are a list of a few essential knots highly recommended you adopt into your nautical arsenal.
• Round Turn with Two Half-Hitches
• Bowline
• Cleat Hitch
• Clove Hitch
• Figure Eight Knot
• Rolling Hitch
• Sheet Bend
• Square Knot
Make sure you’ve got sturdy, thick rope that won’t be affected by the water too much. They should be able to bear the load of your boat without much trouble.
Safety
When it comes to boating, there is a lot that can go wrong if you’re not properly prepared, and even if you are. According to Cantini Law Group Accident and Disability Lawyers, it is always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to water sports.
-Always check the weather before you go out on a boat. Even if it’s currently nice and sunny, take a quick glance at a weather channel or website to be sure your areas won’t be affected by bad weather.
-Create a thorough pre-departure checklist and commit to sticking to it before you ever get out on the water. You’ll want to share this itinerary with someone else as well so they know when to expect you back.
-Be overly cautious. This means giving wide berths to potential hazards including other ships, shallow areas, and landmasses. It also means keeping to a speed that is well within your reaction range, and observing warning markers of all kinds.
-Bring at least one other person who is qualified to drive the boat. Accidents happen, and if the driver is incapacitated for any reason, a knowledgeable second is needed to get home safe. This point goes double for novices, as any Nova Scotia lawyer will tell you, accidents tend to happen more commonly when you’re new at something.
-Look into taking a basic boating instruction course. While articles like this one are informative, there is no replacement for hands on learning.
We hope you find these tips helpful, and feel better prepared to have some amazing experiences on the water. When you are properly prepared it’s a lot easier to relax and have fun, which is why you got a boat in the first place, right? So put in a little time getting these essentials down, and have a blast!
Image credits: Pixabay.com
