One of the great things about having a home on the Paradise Coast is that you can enjoy fun on the water all year long, though summer is certainly an especially popular time for boating adventures near Naples homes for sale. Before heading out to the marina or backyard dock, it's always a good idea to brush up on boating safety practices. Our real estate agents have some boating safety tips based on National Safety Council guidance to help you make the most of your time on the water this summer.
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Always Have Life Jackets Handy
Life jackets are at the core of boating safety. Even for strong swimmers, life jackets are an essential survival tool in the event of an accident. For kids or people who aren't strong swimmers, that importance is only magnified. The National Safety Council recommends picking a life jacket with a proper fit for each passenger's size and weight, making sure that life jackets are always fastened, and ensuring that kids are always wearing life jackets when on a boat. The Wear It guide from the United States Coast Guard offers tons of helpful tips to help you choose the correct equipment for your needs.
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Be Proactive About Safety Education
Especially if you're new to boating, it's critical to make sure that you're up to date on the best practices for staying safe. Online guides are a great place to start, but taking a class from a certified expert is even better. If you dock your boat at a marina, you may be able to find boating safety courses there. You can also find and book classes through Boat-Ed, which offers state-approved boating safety courses across the country.
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Use Common Sense – Don't Drink While Driving a Boat
Common sense is essential to boating safety in all areas. This includes things like checking that your boat is in good condition before heading out, being respectful of other traffic on the water, adhering to local laws, and following posted signs. Of course, drinking while driving a boat is a serious violation of common sense, boating safety, and of Florida law as well. Just don't do it. It's really that simple.
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Create and Share a Float Plan
For an added layer of safety, creating and sharing a float plan before you head out for the day is a great idea. Ideally, this will include your itinerary for the day, expected stops, expected return time, and names/contact information for everyone who will be on board. All of this information can be vital to a fast response in the event of an emergency.
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Check the Weather Before Heading Out
Before you head out, it's always well worth checking the weather to understand what the conditions will be and how they might change throughout the day. The NOAA's nowCOAST map is free to use and designed for people who spend time on the water, so it's a great choice for this purpose.
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Educate Passengers on Boating Safety
Even if you're already quite familiar with boating safety, that may not be true for everyone who's joining you on any given tip. Before you head out, spend a few minutes brushing passengers up on safety tips, showing them where everything important is on the boat, and reviewing emergency procedures.
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Be Aware of Maritime Traffic
Just like on the roads, traffic conditions can vary quite a bit on the water, based on time of year, holidays, weather, and other factors. Understand the traffic situation before you depart, and always be aware of the traffic around you once you head out.
Did that private dock we mentioned earlier pique your attention? You'll find plenty in the backyards of Paradise Coast homes, with many offering private lifts and direct access to the Gulf. Ready to start shopping? Contact us to buy and sell homes in your favorite Paradise Coast communities.
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