10 Maritime Safety Tips for First Time Passengers on Recreational Boats

April 26, 2011 - PRLog -- Florida maritime attorney, Tim Nies, of Van Riper and Nies Attorneys, P.A., all too often sees injuries of passengers, which could have been avoided, if they were provided tips on how to safely ride on a pleasure boat. Cases Tim Nies has litigated range from back injuries from not being properly seated, falling overboard,  to finger amputations.  

The following tips should be considered when riding on a recreational boat for the first time:

1. Make sure your captain checks the sea and weather reports prior to leaving the dock.

2. Ask your captain where you should sit or stand to avoid falls, falling overboard and especially back injuries caused from falling or being ejected from a seat in rough seas.

3. Know the location of all fire extinguishers, first aid kits and personal flotation devices and wear your life jaket. If you do not wish to wear the typical bulky orange life jackets, you can buy your own less cumbersome, but Coast Guard approved, life jacket for $30 - $40.

4. Take a couple minutes before you head out to learn how to operate the GPS and VHF radio in case of an emergency.

5. Keep a lookout for hazards, such as other boats or debris. Be an extra set of eyes for your captain.

6. Keep still when seated. Constantly moving around while the boat is in operation is unsafe and distracting for the captain. Further, constant moving around the boat alters the balance of small boats.

7. Hold on to a grab rail or railing while seated.

8. Avoid being intoxicated while a passenger on a boat. Do not permit your captain to drink during your trip no matter how uncomfortable you feel bringing this up to him or her. Operating a boat is serious business and a great responsibility. Just like in a car, you cannot drink alcohol while operating the boat. It is unsafe and against the law.

9. Stay still and seated when docking until your captain tells you that it is safe to step up onto the dock.

10. When grabbing on to pilons to exit or enter the boat, watch where you place your hands. All to often these pilons may have nails, which can catch wedding rings, etc. Injuries have occurred where a ring of a passenger caught the head of of a nail, and  when the passenger goes to push off, the ring will stay on the nail and the passenger will fall to the water -  causing a ring avulsion injury.    

These are just a few tips to help keep you safe while a passenger on a vessel. Remind your captain to give you a safety briefing before you head out.  For more information about safe boating, visit http://www.vanriperandnies.com.

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Veteran-owned law firm practicing in admiralty and maritime, personal injury, Longshore claims, with offices in Stuart, West Palm Beach, Deerfield Beach and Jensen Beach, Florida.