Get Summer Ready With the Best Boat Safety Kits

Buyer’s Guide to Finding a Boat Safety Kit

The Importance of a Boat Safety Kit

Boat emergency kits ensure the safety of all persons aboard. They are also a requirement by the law in countries, depending on their type and dimensions. Among the many reasons for gearing up your boat with a safety kit, the most prominent include but are not limited to:

Unclear visibility

Weather conditions, like fog or dust storms, can make it difficult to see past a few meters. In such cases, boaters make use of high-intensity navigation lights that help them navigate through the tide. Such handy equipment is part of the emergency kits available.

Unpredictable weather conditions

Some parts of the sea face harsh and unexpected changes in weather in no time. Boaters roaming such waters should be extra careful and prepare enough to tackle such challenges smoothly. Gear like huge sea anchors and detectors for lightning should also be kept on board.

Unavailability of help

If the routes you prefer cruising on do not have boating supply stores near the coast, having essential tools handy will keep you and your boat self-sufficient no matter what you face.

Items to Look for in a Boat Safety Kit

PFDs

PFDs are lifejackets that should be carried onboard. Even if a skier is trailing behind you, they must have a lifejacket as part of the boat’s safety equipment. Your first response as a boater in case of any emergency should be directing your fellow boaters to buckle up in their respective PFDs.

Detachable floating device

Other than your separate lifejackets, the boat’s emergency tools should contain at least one floatation device that can be hurled out in case someone on board falls over. This floatation device should have a rope attached that can be used to pull both the person and the device up.

Optical signaling devices

Calling for help in time of an accident is only possible if you are carrying with you distress signal tools, like flares or pyrotechnic devices. Some flares can launch themselves while others need a flare gun to activate. Equipment like nighttime strobe lights can also be used to draw attention from other boats or from the coastline.

Voice signaling devices

Sound signals are especially helpful in times of storms or fog when visual signals fail to work. Horns and whistles work best for smaller boats while bells are required by larger boats.

Anchor

An anchor can be used to hold the boat in place if your boat ever breaks down and requires repair. Poor weather conditions can also call for anchorage when moving through the tides becomes dangerous.

Bailing device

Such a device pumps excess water out of the boat if it ever fills up.

First aid

Be it nausea from sea sickness or a deep cut from an accident, your boat should be well equipped to address all such emergencies. Basic items like bandaids, gauze, antiseptic, painkillers, and scissors should be a part of your safety gear.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Boat size

Choosing the right safety kit for your vessel depends on its size. Larger boats generally require more extensive equipment for extra precaution. This is because larger boats not only occupy more number of passengers but also have a larger surface area and weight, exposing them more to accidents and malfunctioning.

A relevant example of a boat’s size is anchors. Evidently, larger vessels require larger anchors than smaller ones.

Boat type

Similarly, the type of your boat will also determine the type of safety kit you need. For example, a human-powered boat does not require a fire extinguisher. In the same way, in a PWC it is recommended to carry an anchor along with a longer cable.

Regulations

Every state has its specifically defined guidelines and regulations when it comes to carrying a boat’s safety kit. You should go over your country’s laws before making your purchase so that the kit you buy is compatible with the waters you cruise in.

Manual v. Electric Bailing Device

As mentioned earlier, a bailing device removes water from the lowest levels of the boat. Boaters are generally always sixes and sevens as to the type of bailing device they should carry as part of their boat’s safety gear.

As evident from its name, manual bailing devices require manpower and constant management while electric ones work on their own without the need to supervise. Electric pumps not only clean themselves but also activate automatically as soon as the water level in the lowest level rises.

Manual devices, on the other hand, do not offer you this same privilege.