Boating Rules
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| Busy day on the water |
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| Steaming down the harbour |
Knowledge - know your boat, know the waterway you will be boating on. Make sure you are familar with the local charts and locality.
Keep a good lookout at all times - monitor commercial traffic movements on your radio and look out for yachts, kayaks and other passive craft.
Always travel at a safe speed so that you can take avoiding action whatever the circumstances.
Vessel safety check - ensure your boat and all engines are fully serviced. Carry an auxilliary motor.
Carry at least two means of communication,one should be a VHF radio with channel 16, the universal distress frequency, check out the marine radio networks and keep your radio on at all times. Tell someone of your plans and and anticipated time of return.
Check the Weather - get the latest marine forecast before you leave. If it is doubtful, don't go! Take advice, contact your local boating club or an experienced Skipper you know. Crossing bars in any weather can be dangerous. NSW Maritime's Bar Crossing Web Cam Trial is a great resource for checking bar conditions before setting out..
If you are suddenly in an unfamiliar situation, remain calm, assess your position, identify the problem and call for assistance.
Safe Boating Tip
Your boat maybe a "tinnie", Quintrex, Haines, or Searay - whatever the size, or type here's a tip to keeping safe on the water. Hull design, amount of free board (height from deck to water), chine (intersection of the bottom and sides of a flat or v-bottomed boat), passenger numbers, fuel onboard and conditions of the day, all come into play when determining your boats stability and how it handles on the water.
Keep a good lookout. Watch wave height, watch for wake. Reduce speed and take the wave on a 45 degree angle. Your passengers and other boaties will appreciate your boat handling skill.