Keep It Safe – Helpful Tips for Spending the Day on the Florida Waterways
It’s hot outside, the sun’s shining and Florida families are celebrating the kick off of summer (Florida-style) by feeding their passion for boating and all things related to being out on the water. It’s fun and relaxing but with boating comes a certain amount of responsibility and safety considerations as well.
Boating safety should always come first when you step on board. Here are the basics. Sticking to this list of safety tips will make for a fun and trouble-free day on the water.
Florida leads the nation in registered boats: over a million in 2024, plus close to a million unregistered ones (think kayaks and canoes), by FWC’s estimate. That same year the state recorded 685 reportable boating accidents and 81 deaths, according to FWC’s 2024 boating accident report. Many were preventable, so it is worth a few minutes to brush up before you head out.
Did you know that anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 who operates a boat with 10 horsepower or more needs to complete an approved boating safety course and carry a Florida Boating Safety Education ID Card? Most online courses are very affordable ($15.00-$50.00) with Boat US course being completely FREE! Regardless of age, it is worth taking one: in 2024, 65% of operators involved in fatal accidents in Florida had no formal boating education. For more Boating Safety ID Card information check out this page, for a list of approved courses check here.
Time of Year and Day
To some, checking out the frequency of accidents and observing trends among seasons is no surprise, as the weather heats up and people head to the water to cool off but there are additional factors that may contribute that boaters and swimmers should be aware. School being out for the summer, major holidays that may involve boating (Memorial Day, Fourth of July) and popular fisheries openings (Red Snapper, Gag Grouper, Lobster Mini Season, Scallop Season) may increase the number of waterway users and therefore accidents.
To the casual boater not participating in the opening day festivities it may be easier to skip those times but for people like us who look forward to the season, it’s a great reminder to keep a closer lookout during periods of high use which can include time of day, when the most people are out and about or as visibility becomes limited.
Keeping a Lookout
Not paying attention is one of the biggest causes of boating accidents, and collisions are the most common kind. In Florida in 2024, hitting a fixed object was the single most common accident type, at 31%. Collisions were categorized as hitting another vessel or fixed object, hitting a floating or submersed object, grounding your boat on land, and striking someone with the hull or engine.
Most of these are preventable by paying attention, knowing your water way, increasing your familiarity with signs/symbols and having proper and functioning gear when operating in low visibility conditions (required and functional navigational lights or a spotlight if having to operate in the dark).
Location, Location, Location
Since so many boating accidents are collisions, it is no surprise that most happen close to shore rather than offshore. Bays, creeks, canals, inlets, ponds and ports accounted for the vast majority of accident locations because that is where the people and the things to bump into are. Pay attention to signage, too: plenty of accidents happen inside speed zones and other restricted areas. When marked channels are present, use them! This will reduce your chances of running aground and damaging seagrass, and it keeps you and your passengers safe.
Channel markers confuse plenty of new boaters. The rule of thumb in U.S. waters is “red, right, returning”: when you are heading in from open water, keep the red markers on your right. Ask us to walk you through the local markers at check-in.
More Signs and Symbols
Know the nautical rules of the water. Maintain a proper lookout and be respectful of buoys and other navigational aids, all of which have been placed there to ensure your safety and the safety of the local wildlife and other boaters around you. To learn more, check out the U.S. Coast Guard’s Navigation Rules. Waterway markers can be signs attached to pilings or labeled buoys with some variation in size, shape, and material. Messages written in the sign indicate what boating practice to follow but the symbols inside the sign mean something and may be easier to spot! Check the picture below to familiarize yourself with some of the messaging that matches up with the internal shape labeled on the sign to get a better idea on what to expect. If you are approaching a sign with a circle, you will probably have to adjust your speed!
Some common messages for each symbol
Diamond (Hazard Area Symbol): Submerged Rock, Danger, Shoal, Stump, Shallow Area, Caution
Circle (Controlled Area Symbol): Manatee Zone, Slow Speed, Minimum Wake, Idle Speed, No Wake, 25 mph
Diamond with Cross (Restricted Area Symbol): Exclusion Zone, No Entry, Swim Area, No Boats
Square (Information Symbol): Marina Entrance, State Park Ahead, Restaurant 1 Mile.
Good Habits on Board
Wear Life Jackets
The biggest safety advice for any boating trip is to wear a life jacket. Most people who drown in boating accidents were not wearing one, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. There should be a life jacket for every person on board the boat. Whether you’re planning to swim or not, wear it.
Dock Slowly
Go slow when docking. If you rush, you could damage your boat, the dock, another vessel, or even cause an injury. If it’s not going well, don’t be too proud to back away, start again, or ask for help.
Stow Phones and Valuables
Valuables like cell phones, keys, and wallets have a way of getting wet or accidentally falling in the water. Make sure they are secured in a dry box or waterproof bag.
Save the Alcohol for Later
A critical piece of advice in boating safety: avoid alcohol when driving the boat. Just like driving a car, alcohol greatly affects response time and the ability to focus on what you’re doing. It is also just as illegal: Florida’s limit for boat operators is 0.08, the same as on the road.
Kid Safety
Children and infants should have a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket made for their size. Florida law requires kids under 6 to wear one whenever a boat under 26 feet is underway, which covers every boat in our fleet. Teach children not to run around on the boat, to stay seated while the boat is underway and to keep their hands and feet inside the vessel at all times. Always supervise children around open water. Another good safety precaution if you boat often, is to enroll your child in a swimming class or boater safety course.
While on a boat, don’t feel pressured to operate the vessel if you lack boating experience, are unfamiliar with the boat or the waterway, or if you don’t feel comfortable behind the wheel on the water. Mention any concerns to us and ask plenty of questions before getting behind the wheel of a boat or navigating an unfamiliar waterway. Some engine throttles can be more sensitive than others and sandbars can move! Like many things an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Have fun! Boating and other activities in and around the water are some of the most enjoyable to do in Florida! The best day out on the water is when everyone makes it back to land safely!
Keep reading:
10 Tips for Navigating Sarasota Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway
The boat for this: our 21-foot blue Chaparral bowrider seats up to 9 and is an easy, family-friendly boat to handle. Book online or call (941) 404-7900.