National Safe Boating Week is a great time to remind ourselves that safety never takes a holiday, even over the boat-busy Memorial Day Weekend. Make sure your boat and its systems are in good working order before you head out on the waters. Remember that life jackets work best when they are actually worn.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s official boating safety website provides: updates to new safety regulations for fire extinguishers; how to find a local boating safety class (required for any power vessel operators born after Jan. 1st, 1988); boating safety tips (see below), and local vessel safety checks courtesy of the Coast Guard auxiliary unit in your area.

See something, say something. It’s important and in fact required that boaters utilize available safety equipment like a VHF radio. You should monitor channel 16 to hear urgent advisories as well as distress calls, and your local WX weather channel for marine weather forecasts. For a quick review on handling distress calls check out this article in Soundings.

Have a great weekend and a safe start to the 2022 boating season!