<p>Teri not only enjoys writing and the outdoors, she also loves telling people how to stay safe when on the water or when enjoying other outdoor activities.</p>
If your life jacket shows rips, faded fabric, broken buckles or zippers, waterlogged or crumbling foam, or a UV-damaged inflator cartridge, it's time to replace it. Good life jacket maintenance matters, but even the best personal flotation device (PFD) eventually wears out. Most life jackets…
At night, boats need specific navigation lights, including red (port/left) and green (starboard/right) sidelights, a white stern light at the rear, and either a white masthead light at the front or an all-around white light. When anchored, your boat must display a white anchor light…
If you need to treat someone for hypothermia on a boat, first get the person out of the water. Then, remove their wet clothing and wrap them in dry layers or blankets to help warm their core (chest, neck, head, and groin), not their extremities.
Winterizing a boat involves protecting the engine, plumbing, and fuel system from freezing damage during cold storage. If you live in a colder climate, winterizing your boat at the end of each boating season should be a standard part of your boating best practices. Doing…
If you plan to fish from a motorized vessel, you'll typically need a boater education card. Most states require it, and it's separate from your fishing license. While the fishing license is specifically to allow you to catch fish, the boater education card is more…
