The last week in September 2020 was National Safe Boating Week and existing and new boat owners can never have too many reminders when it comes to safety. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority in conjunction with ANZSBERG (Australia New Zealand Safe Boating Education Group) partner up to promote marine safety and initiate this week to encourage boat owners to be safe.
On the eve of summer, which is the busiest boating season, it provides timely information and updates for all boat owners on what they need to be doing before they even get to the water or before they launch from their mooring. https://www.amsa.gov.au/national-safe-boating-week provides some great tips, hints and directions.
For anyone considering getting into boating with a boat loan from Jade Boat Loans, it’s critical that you are well aware of what is required of you.
The key messages around National Safe Boating Week are:
- Know It: know your boat and be sure it is suited for the purpose. For recreational boaties, that may mean not taking a boat intended for inshore, calm water boating into rough offshore conditions.
- Service It: we’ve covered this in many articles – ensure you service your boat correctly. Failures of equipment, engine and other parts of the boat can be disastrous.
- Pack It: ensure you pack all the required, and more, safety and emergency equipment.
- Check It: check both the weather conditions and the tidal information before heading off.
- Plan It: plan you trip and make sure someone knows your plans. For certain trips, in particular offshore, it may be advisable to let people know your plan and your ETA. Have the contact details on board for your local Volunteer Coastal Patrol, maritime police and other emergency authorities.
- Learn It: skippering a boat is akin to driving a car. You stick to the road rules when you’re driving and when you’re boating, you need to know and stick to the maritime rules.
- Wear It: your life jacket that is! Funny how a life jacket stowed below in a cupboard doesn’t provide much assistance when someone accidentally goes overboard. As the saying goes, life jackets only work when you wear them!
When buying a new boat and discussing your boat finance with Jade Boat Loans, you can consider including any additional safety equipment and gear in the boat loan. Many boats will be sold with safety equipment but it is worth checking that in particular and if you’re not 100% happy with what is included in the deal, consider purchasing additional items.
The cost of additional items may be able to be included in your boat loan to save having to use your cash reserves. Additional items may include extra, new or better life jackets, new emergency beacons (EPIRBS), the latest navigational devices and other equipment.
Know Your Weather, Know the BOM
Weather plays an important factor in boating. When you’re heading off from home with your trailer boat or driving to the marina, the weather at your place may look ideal for a day on the water. But the conditions where you intend to take your boat may be different and the forecast may be for big changes throughout the time you will be on the water.
Getting to know the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is a great idea. They have dedicated web pages to marine conditions http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/ which cover every state and territory. The general information pages issue weather alerts and warnings and you can download the BOM Weather app so you have easy access to information on your smart phone.
Following the BOM on social media is great as they constantly issue updates as well as interesting educational pieces to increase your knowledge and understanding. Knowing what the different clouds are can be extremely helpful in doing your own forecasts as to how the weather may change over coming hours while you’re on the water.
The BOM advises that before you go boating, you should do the 5 vital weather safety checks:-
- Marine Warnings
- Changing Weather
- Wind Conditions
- Wave Conditions
- Tide Times
In their Marine Weather Knowledge Centre, http://www.bom.gov.au/marine/knowledge-centre/index.shtml the BOM has blogs, videos and graphic resources to assist you.
Upgrading For Safety
Before buying a boat, it’s advisable if not essential, to check every aspect of the vessel from a safety perspective. Whether it’s a brand new or used boat. This may include visual inspections but also studying information around how boat’s construction and ratings to suit what weather and wave conditions.
Buying a safer boat doesn’t have to mean buying a more expensive boat. But getting the cheapest interest rate boat loan through Jade may assist you upgrade to a better boat. If you’re reviewing your boat for National Safe Boating Week and feel it no longer meets the purposes you want from your boating – perhaps you want to venture offshore, have more space and safer cabin space for the kids – consider a boat loan from Jade Boat Loans to upgrade to a better boat.
Be safe on the water!
To discuss a boat loan on a new boat, contact Jade Boat Loans Call 1300 000 003.
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