Whether you love spending time on your friends’ boats or you have a vessel of your own, boating safety education is crucial for boaters of all ages and experience levels.
Why is boating safety education so important? Even if you’ve never experienced a crisis on board, you need to know what to do if a problem does arise. Learn more about the importance of boat safety and how education can save lives.
Learn Safe Operating Procedures
You wouldn’t drive a car if you hadn’t taken driving lessons and received a license beforehand, right? It’s a similar concept with boats. Learning the rules of the waterways helps you operate the vessel safely and know how to interact with other boats on the water.
Earn Potential Insurance Discounts
Many insurance companies offer incentives to boaters who have passed a safety education course. If you learn proper boating safety procedures from an accredited institution, like the American Red Cross, you could earn a discount on your insurance premium.
Give Fellow Boaters Peace of Mind
Whether you’re operating your own boat or are a passenger on a friend’s vessel, the other passengers aboard will feel safer with you and your boating education in their midst. It feels good to do good for others—prioritize your friends’ safety as well as your own, and you’ll all have a lovely time on the water.
Know Proper Emergency Response
Being on a boat carries a certain level of risk with it. Even if you’ve never experienced a man-overboard situation or other marine crisis before, you should know what to do in a variety of emergencies while keeping a cool head. In an emergency situation, lack of proper education can be fatal—boating safety courses literally save lives.
When it comes to safety on the water, it’s far better to overprepare than underprepare. Boating safety education is crucial for everyone on your boat, as well as everyone else on the water. Do your part to keep your boating hobby safe and fun!
