#1:  Safety should always come first. When on the water you should always wear a PFD (personal flotation device), along with a wide brim hat, UV sunglasses, and a SPF 30 or greater sunscreen lotion. In addition, it is also a good idea to carry a knife, a waterproof VHF radio, and when possible, pocket flares. Always have your VHF radio on to listen for distress calls, weather conditions and unexpected hazards which you may encounter.
  

#2:  One of the most dangerous situations is when a person falls overboard. Drowning and hypothermia can both be life threatening. You should always have a well-practiced plan for retrieval. You should immediately throw a flotation device to the person in the water and one or two people should serve as spotters, keeping their eyes on the person at all times. Always take care to keep the propeller away from anyone in the water. To the right is an illustration of a method of recovery.
 

#3:  The sides of a powerboat are referred to as port for the left side of the boat and starboard for the right side of the boat. The bow is the front of the boat and the stern is the back.
 

#4:  It is important to know the Navigation Rules. You will probably hear many people refer to them as the “rules of the road,” but the official term is Navigation Rules. In general, powerboats will give way to sailboats, fishing boats engaged in fishing with nets, trawls and lines, and large vessels restrained by draft or by a channel. When a vessel is overtaking another boat, the overtaking vessel is the give-way vessel regardless of the type of boat overtaken.
 

#5:   When two powerboats approach each other, the one on your port (left) side will give way in ample time and with an obvious change of course and/or speed. The other boat should maintain course and speed unless it becomes apparent that the give-way boat is not taking appropriate action to avoid a collision.
 

#6:  Daymarks and buoys serve as a guide for the location of safe waters and hazards. When entering a harbor in the United States (IALA-B Buoyage System) or going upstream, red daymarks and buoys should pass on the boat’s starboard (right) side and green daymarks and buoys should pass on the port (left) side. Remember – Red, Right, Returning.
  

#7: All boaters should know basic knot tying. A cleat hitch is used to tie a boat to a dock. The following is a video on how to tie a cleat hitch.

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#8:  A bowline has a non-slipping loop that can be used to tie a line around a pole or a person’s waist. The following is a video on how to tie a bowline.

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#9:  Anchoring must be done with caution. One should be sure enough rode or line to the anchor is let out and an adequate depth of water is present along the entire swing radius of the anchorage. In addition, one must also account for changing water depths with tides when at anchor.
  

#10:   Docking can be difficult and never should be taken lightly. The fenders, or side cushions on the boat, should be in place. A crew member should also have a fender or pole to try to prevent an inadvertent collision. Never place your arms or legs between the boat and the docking platform. Remember, there are no brakes on a powerboat and reverse will not immediately stop the forward motion of the boat -- always approach the dock slowly.
 

#11:  A boater should always check the weather before heading out. If you see thunderclouds or squalls approaching, return to land immediately.
 

#12:  Take your time and review this information. When you are ready, take the Primer Test.  

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