Boat safety tips for a season of smooth sailing
Boat safety tips for a season of smooth sailing
At James & Lindsay, we’re here to help you with your insurance needs. We’re a trusted partner for individuals and families who need insurance on high value assets. We don’t just provide insurance solutions, we’re here to help you at any stage of your insurance journey.
This time, our three part content series will focus on top Summer tips that reduce the risk of a claim for our high value asset customers. After all, prevention is the best cure! Our series will delve into three crucial areas of private client insurance – travel, home and boat.
Our top Boat safety tips
Now that it’s summer, you’re probably eagerly awaiting your first sail of the season – if you haven’t had it already! But don’t risk the wind being taken from your sails; to help you get off to a good start, we’ve compiled a list of key safety tips to ensure that that you’re prepared to get back on the water.
Tip #1: Inspect your craft
If your boat’s been docked for months, you’ll want to inspect it to check that everything’s as it should be, including:
- Checking the rigging and ensuring any standing rigging is secure
- Making sure the mast is level and the sails are stretched
- Inspecting the hold for any leaks
- Checking all electronics work – including the navigation system, the echo sounder, and the anemometer.1
Tip #2: Wear your life jacket
Despite the fact that 82% of all boating deaths (between 2007 and 2016) in the UK could have been prevented if a life jacket had been worn,2 only around half of boaters wear one.3 Remember that current guidelines recommend that you should be wearing a life jacket while on-board at all times. You’ll also want to make sure you regularly (at least once a year) get your life jacket serviced, and insist that all guests on your craft wear a life jacket, too.
Tip #3: Be organised
If you’ve heard the old adage, ‘failing to prepare is preparing to fail’, you’ll know how well it applies to sailing. From unpredictable weather to mercurial seas, boating can be dangerous if you don’t plan ahead and don’t plan for the worst. As well as keeping a detailed itinerary, make sure you’ve done your research on where you’re taking your boat, look up weather patterns, and consult nautical charts.
Tip #3: Consider the environment
In our increasingly eco-conscious world, governments around the globe have been implementing harsher penalties for people prosecuted for environmental harm. In an incident earlier this year in the Greek island of Hydra, a superyacht crew are accused of causing the destruction of 3,000 acres of land after mishandling fireworks. A captain and first officer now face up to 20 years in prison and a €200,000 fine.4 So, wherever you take your boat, make sure that you’re making good environmental choices and have thoroughly researched any region-specific laws and regulations.
Planning a boating excursion with overnight stays in accommodation? Don’t forget your travel insurance. But be aware of common travel insurance perils in the next edition of our staying safe in the summer series.
Want to take your safety further? Contact James & Lindsay today at info@jameslindsay.co.uk or 01206 761 111 to discuss the perfect boat cover for you.
1How to Prepare a Yacht for Departure – Checklist (toprik.com)
3 There’s No Excuse Not to Wear a Lifejacket | Helly Hansen
4 Yacht Crew Arrested After Fireworks Ignite Forest Fire on Greek Island (boatblurb.com)