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 the engine and pull up on the anchor. This will reduce the risk of the boat catching fire or drifting away from shore. Do not try to fight the flames yourself; instead, call for help from other boaters or send someone else for help.

How to use: If there’s no one around who knows how to use a fire extinguisher, ask someone who does know how—if possible—or take an online course! The courses are free and only take 15 minutes; it could save your life someday!

Expiration date: It’s very important that you check your boat’s fire extinguisher monthly (or every time you fill up on fuel) so that it doesn't become expired during an emergency situation when it matters most!

Flare gun and flares

Store flares in a waterproof container, preferably one that floats. Keep them in a dry place where they will not be exposed to extreme temperatures or damaging chemicals. Check your flares regularly to make sure they are still good and replace them after they have been used. Flares are only of use if you can get them out of their storage box and into the water; keep them accessible so that you can get to them easily when you need them.

Flares last for about five years, so mark your calendars (or whatever) so that when it's time for replacement, you don't forget!

First aid kit

This is a must-have item in any boat. It should include bandages, gauze, and tape (including waterproof tape), antiseptic wipes and antibiotic ointment, tweezers and scissors.

Compass and GPS

You should know where you are and where you are going at all times. You should know how to find your way back, and you need to have a means of navigation in fog, poor visibility or night conditions.

Avoid hazards like rocks and shoals that may be hidden from view by the water's surface. Avoid other obstacles such as jetties, piers, bridges etc., which may cause damage to the boat should contact occur with them. Be careful not to run aground on reefs or other underwater objects that can cause extensive damage to the hull or propeller(s).

VHF radio

You should know how to use a VHF radio, when and how to contact the Coast Guard, and how to contact other boaters.

Emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB)

An EPIRB is a distress beacon that sends a signal from your boat to a satellite. When activated, it will transmit information about your exact location to the nearest rescue coordination centre.

You should always carry one on board, and make sure it's registered with the Coast Guard. It's very important to keep your EPIRB in good working order and always have one accessible when you're on the water. If there’s an emergency or accident on board, you can activate it quickly by pressing an “on/off" button or pulling out its antenna.

Anchor with enough line for the water depth plus more

Once you've set the anchor, reel in enough line to reach bottom. You want to make sure that there is enough of a line for your boat and the water depth. If you're going into deep waters and need more than 10 feet (3 meters) of line, consider using two anchors instead of one!

When anchoring near rocks or other boats, be careful about how much rope you leave on the boat for retrieval purposes. It may seem like it's plenty long but when you try to pull up a full-sized anchor from an underwater location that has more current than expected, then things can get hairy!

Horn or whistle for signaling in emergencies

Signaling devices should be loud enough to be heard (and visible) from a distance, waterproof, easy to use and replace (including the batteries if necessary), and they should have an instruction manual that's easy to understand and follow.

Tool kit with pliers, screwdrivers, spare screws, nuts, bolts, and nails

• Pliers are used for gripping and turning.
• Screwdrivers are for turning screws.
• Nuts and bolts are used to connect things.
• Spare screws, nuts and bolts can be useful in fixing things that break during the trip (or before you leave land).
• A set of screwdrivers will come in handy when you need to turn screws on your boat or equipment that has been packed up tightly.
  
  

An extra prop so you're not stuck at the dock

A spare prop can be a lifesaver, and it's good to know that you have one in your boat. Here's what you can do if you lose a prop:

Pull the boat up to the dock and tie it off. You don't want to be stranded out on the water with no way of getting back home.

Make sure there are enough people on board (or nearby) to help get the broken prop off so they can replace it with a new one before heading back out onto open water again!

To check if your prop is damaged, unscrew one screw at a time until all four screws are loose, then lift off each blade individually using long-nosed pliers or similar tools as needed depending on whether they're bolted down or not (see picture). If any blades have been dented beyond repair, replace them immediately because these parts aren't designed for reuse after being bent out of shape repeatedly over time; otherwise everything should be fine!

Don't get caught without these items.

Don't go out without a life jacket, fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, a compass and GPS (if you're navigating), and a VHF radio, if you plan to be on the water for any length of time and/or in open water conditions where there's no cell phone service or other way to get help if needed (e.g., radio signals don't penetrate water very well).

We hope you have enjoyed reading this list of items that should be on your boat. We know that it can be quite daunting to keep all these things in mind at once, but the more familiar you are with them the easier it will be for you when it comes time to use them. As we mentioned above, when in doubt always go back to basics and start by putting out a distress call over the radio or using your horn or whistle to signal nearby ships. In any case, always lean on the side of caution!