Boating Safety Tips for Australia

No matter how experienced you are, reviewing boating safety rules before every departure is essential. As the captain of your vessel, the responsibility for the safety of everyone on board falls squarely on your shoulders. It’s not just about knowing where the safety equipment is located, but making sure your passengers do too—and that they’re prepared to act in case of an emergency. Below are 13 crucial boating safety tips to help ensure a safe and enjoyable journey on the water.

Essential Boating Safety Tips: Stay Safe on the Water with These 13 Must-Follow Guidelines

1. Be Weather Wise

Check the weather before heading out – it’s boating 101. Watch TV, listen to the radio, or use an app to monitor changing conditions. If you see dark clouds, feel sudden drops in temperature, or notice rough winds, it’s time to head for shore. Boating is only fun when it’s safe!

2. Follow a Pre-Departure Checklist

Being prepared is the key to avoiding surprises. Use a pre-departure checklist to cover all bases, from ensuring you have enough fuel to checking that your boat is in top condition. Make sure your boat license is up to date and all safety equipment is working. Don’t forget to let someone know your boating plan! It’s your safety net in case things go wrong.

Things to include in your checklist:

• Have I checked the weather?
• Is my boat licence and registration current?
• Have I made myself familiar with the area I am going?
• Check the tide to ensure the ramp is suitable for launching.
• Checked the boat for defects and note any required repairs.
• Do I have enough fuel for the round trip, plus reserves?
• Do I have sufficient water and food for the return trip, plus reserves?
• Is all the appropriate safety equipment onboard and in working order?
• Have I shown my passengers where the safety equipment is and how to use it?
• Have I advised a reliable person of my boating plan? This is best written down and handed to the person prior to your departure.  Include where you are going and when you plan to be back as well as the number of passengers on board and type of radio and emergency beacon you are carrying.  These details are very helpful in an emergency.

Some of the following boat safety equipment is required by law – you should check the laws with your local authority.

Boat safety equipment can include:

• Oars
• Knife
• Rope
• Radio
• Torch
• Mirror
• Flares
• Boat hook
• First aid kit
• Drinking water
• Fire extinguisher
• Bailer or bucket
• Chart and compass
• Anchor chain and rope
• Buoyancy aids, life jackets
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)

3. Use Common Sense

Boat safety starts with common sense – operate your boat at a safe speed, stay alert, and respect buoys and other navigational aids. Give larger vessels plenty of space, and never assume you can stop or turn as quickly as smaller crafts. Remember, it’s not just about your safety but the safety of everyone on the water.

4. Designate an Assistant Skipper

In an emergency, you don’t want to be the only one who knows how to navigate. Make sure there’s an assistant skipper who can step in and handle the boat if something happens to you. It’s peace of mind for everyone on board.

5. Develop a Float Plan

Don’t leave the dock without a float plan. Let a family member or marina staff know where you’re headed and when you expect to return. Include your contact details, boat registration, passenger list, and onboard communication equipment. In an emergency, this info could be lifesaving.

6. Make Proper Use of Lifejackets

Lifejackets save lives – plain and simple. Did you know most drowning victims weren’t wearing one? Ensure that every person on board has a properly fitting lifejacket, and make it a non-negotiable part of your pre-departure routine. It’s a small step that can make a world of difference.

7. Boating and Alcohol

Alcohol and boating can be a deadly combination. The wind, waves, and sun amplify the effects of alcohol, increasing the risk of accidents. Keep the 0.05% alcohol limit in mind, and save the drinks for when you’re back on dry land.

8. Learn to Swim

If you’re going to spend time on the water, knowing how to swim is a must. Don’t take chances – enroll in a swimming course if you need to brush up on your skills. It’s one of the best things you can do for your safety. Visit https://swim.org.au/ for an Adult Learn to Swim School in your area.

9. Take a Boating Course

No matter how experienced you are, there’s always more to learn. Boating safety courses teach essential skills, and many states require completion of a course. It could make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major accident.

10. Get an Australian Builders Plate (ABP)

Make sure your boat has an Australian Builders Plate (ABP). It provides essential safety information about your boat’s capacity, engine rating, and buoyancy. Don’t hit the water without it—it’s a key factor in keeping your boat compliant and safe. For further information visit the National Marine Safety Committee website or contact your boat’s manufacturer.

11. Children’s Safety

Buy a good Lifejacket or life vest with a collar that turns a child face up in the water. It must have

• strong waist and crotch straps,
• a handle on the collar, and
• preferably be a bright yellow or orange colour for good visibility.

Attach a plastic safety whistle to the Lifejacket and teach the child how to use the whistle – and practice using it.  Additionally, ensure that children thoroughly understand boat safety procedures and can respond appropriately in an emergency. Practice safety drills and situation role-plays so that emergency procedures become second nature to you and your children.

NSW Maritime advises it is a must to have a lifejacket available for all people on board and it must be in good condition, ready at hand and of the correct size. Lifejackets are available in a wide range of sizes to suit adults down to young children. For infants where a correctly-sized lifejacket is not available, NSW Maritime recommends parents to keep the child close at all times while afloat and to have their own lifejacket ready for instant use or to put it on at times of heightened risk. Heightened risk includes occasions when conditions get rough or a storm or squall approaches.

While it is only compulsory to wear a lifejacket in NSW while crossing coastal bars, riding a jetski or in a paddle craft or windsurfer more than 400m from shore, Maritime recommends children and poor swimmers wear on at all times when in the open areas of a boat which is underway.

Children must also be kept within the bounds of the vessel and should never sit with their legs or arms dangling over the sides of a powerboat that is underway.

The activity known as ‘teak surfing‘ where people,  usually children, hang onto the duckboard or transom of a powerboat that is underway is dangerous and must not be encouraged. Not only is a child close to the propeller in such a situation, they are also likely to be exposed to carbon monoxide poisoning via exhaust fumes.

12. Carry a Marine Radio

A mobile phone just won’t cut it in an emergency. Make sure you have a marine radio onboard—it’s more reliable and allows you to broadcast distress calls to everyone in range. It’s your best line of defense when things go wrong on the water.

13. Night Safety

When the sun goes down, everything changes on the water. Ensure your boat has the correct lights to stay visible to others. Remember, being bright at night keeps you safe. For more details on night safety, check out the latest guidelines BE BRIGHT AT NIGHT! More information on night safety at NSW Maritime.

Making boating safety a priority means more fun and fewer accidents. Follow these tips and make sure every trip is a safe one. After all, being a smart boater is all about protecting what matters most – your life and the lives of those on board.

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