Mistakes happen, and like everyone, boaters are not immune to their fair share of slipups and embarrassing blunders. Whether you’re a seasoned salt or a first-time boater, some accidents are unavoidable, while others happen out of just plain stupidity. To help you proactively avoid boating fails while you’re out on the water, check out these seven common mistakes made by boaters.

1. Drifting from the Dock: Inferior Cleating

Docking itself is hard enough as it is, but once docked, you’ll want to ensure that you tie up properly. Countless boaters have learned the hard way about the consequences of not securely cleating their boat to the dock. Before you know it, your runabout may be drifting out into open water or crashing into other nearby vessels.

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