It's the middle of summer, and you're ready to hit the water. You've got sunscreen, a cooler full of drinks, and snacks for the kids. The boat is fully stocked and ready for action. You just need to make sure that your boat is prepared for any emergencies that might arise on your trip. Be sure to check these items off your list for a well equipped, stress free time on the water!

Lifejackets

Lifejackets must be worn when the boat is underway, anchored, or moored (at anchor or at dock). It’s important to make sure there is at least one properly fitting life jacket for each passenger, and a few spares on board as well. In the event of an emergency, this will ensure each passenger is accounted for and assigned their own personal floatation device.

Fire extinguisher

Location: Fire extinguishers are stored in a place where they can be easily located and used.

What to do: If a fire starts, immediately turn off t

Most boat enthusiasts dive into buying a boat without understanding the difficulties of owning one. It’s no secret that the boating industry is booming – the annual U.S. marine industry expenditure for boats and related services was $56.7 billion in 2021.

However, most buyers become boat owners without adequate preparation. For starters, every state in the U.S. has different boating regulations.

Some states require a boating education card while others have strict waterway rules regarding specific types