Planning and preparation is needed before you take to the water, and may well save your life – or at least save the cost of a tow from the Coastguard. If things do go wrong, search and rescue does take time and you are on your own until help arrives.
Before you go out, follow these simple checks:
You should check the weather and sea conditions before deciding whether to go out. MetService provides an online coastal weather forecast for areas around New Zealand.
MetService [MetService: Marine Forecasts]
NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research) has wave buoys around the coast. You can view wave information and sea conditions in the area you plan to go boating.
Today’s boats need less care and attention than older boats, but just ask Coastguard how many of their calls are for a tow home! Nearly all could have been avoided by better preparation. Even the shortest tow will cost at least $200 – money better spent on a new battery or an engine service.
Just because the motor started at home and at the ramp, it does not mean it will do so at the end of a day’s fishing – when the radio, depth finder and perhaps a light have been using up battery power. A regular check will ensure you don't get caught out.
Salt water and moisture are invasive, and adversely affect any metal touched. Anti-corrosion sprays work well, but a “spanner check” on all controls and mechanical and electrical connections will uncover many problems. Liberal use of waterproof grease will keep items working and free from corrosion.
With high petrol prices, there is an understandable reluctance to discard any fuel remaining from last year. Storing it over the winter months, especially if it's two-stroke mix, will take it way beyond its use-by date.
A combination of tired battery, old fuel and a little corrosion could mean you'll have to call Coastguard – but only if your radio works.
Without a checklist to help with preparation, the best of us are sure to overlook a detail or two – possibly something critical. Your checklist's details should be specific to your type of boat, but all checklists have common elements.
A Skipper Responsibility Sticker gives a basic checklist for boating safety. View or request a sticker from Water Safety New Zealand [Water Safety New Zealand]
Those who get themselves into difficulty on the water often have not made an effort to know much about their boat at all, especially a boat that's been recently purchased. You also need to know how your equipment works and check it regularly. Make sure you don't overlook less obvious items, like the cylinders on inflatable lifejackets.
The accident investigation and analysis carried out by Maritime New Zealand has highlighted the four key factors leading to fatal accidents in boats:
Only the foolhardy think “it won’t happen to me”. No matter how well prepared, how knowledgeable or how capable, anyone can find themselves in a life-threatening situation on the water.
Your chances of survival will come down to how well prepared you are. Remember search and rescue takes time, and you are on your own until help arrives.
Cold is one of the greatest threats to the lives of everyone on the water. When immersed in cold water, certain techniques can improve your chances of surviving long enough to be rescued. Read Survive in cold water.
Checking the boat and its equipment is one crucial element, the other is mental preparation. Stop to think for a minute or two about safety, and how you will cope in each type of possible emergency, and share these thoughts with the crew every time you go out – it's an important part of being prepared.
If all this seems like too much trouble, especially after boating for many years with no problems, give a moment’s thought to those who don’t make it home after a boating trip. Many of those who get into difficulty are well prepared, knowledgeable, experienced boaties who get caught out by the elements, or experience equipment failure.
Be prepared and take a few extra precautions, no matter what. Remember: fail to plan – plan to fail.