Friday, December 9th, 2011
by Brent McNamee
The Gift of Safety: Last Minute Ideas for the Boating Fanatic
It’s that time of year again. Some folks have had their shopping done for months.
But for more than a few of us, there’s still a lot to be done. Where to start? If
your loved ones are crazy about being out on the water, here are a few gifts that
show how much you care—and show your good taste. Yes, these safety-themed items
also have a bit of style.
1. A cool PFD: Be safe. Look great.
It’s a fact: the number one way to prevent a fatality while boating is to wear a
life jacket. But many boaters still resist strapping one on, citing the way they
look or feel. Well, the new generation of PFDs not only do the job (keep your head
above water) they also look and fit great. So, no excuses. Here are a few of our
favorites:
2. A gift that doesn’t require wrapping? There’s an app for that.
Need to send a last minute gift to someone out of town? For the owner of a smart
phone or tablet, here’s a gift that requires no wrapping or postage—an app. Gifting
an app (for an iPhone, iPad or Android device) is incredibly easy. And there are
some great boating apps out there! Some of the most useful are marine navigation
charts, and they’re great from a safety perspective too. Here are three popular
choices:
3. Waterproof VHF marine radio: Be heard when it counts
A marine VHF radio is a must on all larger vessels but it can come in handy on even
the smallest boats for checking in with marinas, other vessels, or getting the weather
update. Most important, Channel 16 is dedicated for distress signaling, so if you
get in trouble, and you have a VHF radio, you are going to be heard. There are lots
of options out there, but this handy and affordable waterproof model caught our
eye:
4. Tri-power whistle: Be heard when it counts (take 2)
Whether on the water or on your street, in an emergency often your greatest need
is to be heard. This small, very loud (120 decibels loud), almost indestructible
whistle is the perfect everyday safety companion. Designed by search and rescue
professionals, it’s also only $5! So pick up a few as stocking stuffers and make
sure the people you care about have one on their keychain and on their PFD.
Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard and used by the National Association for Search
and Rescue (NASAR), this is not your everyday piece of plastic:
5. Personal Locator/Tracker
For those really going out in the wild, a personal locator or tracker can be a huge
asset. And if you get a SPOT Personal Tracker, you can also use it to check in with
loved ones to say you’re okay. The SPOT works from satellite positioning in order
to give your location when you’re off the cell grid. Another option for personal
location services is a Position Locator Beacon, such as the McMurdo Fastfind. Unlike
the SPOT service, PLBs do not require a subscription, however, they cost a little
more upfront. There are arguments for both, however, the bottom line is if you need
to be found in the wilderness, either of these is better than none.
6. Re-entry Ladder
Falling out of your boat is one thing. Not being able to get back in is quite another.
Not only does it not look very smooth, it can be downright dangerous, especially
if out fishing solo. Statistics show that many boating fatalities stem from falls
overboard, often when boaters are out alone. It can be very difficult to get back
in your boat and cold water shock can set in quickly.
One of the ways to make sure your favorite angler is prepared for an unexpected
spill is to have a re-entry ladder installed on his or her boat. You can install
a fixed ladder to your boat, but here are two other interesting options that caught
our eye:
7. A Boating Safety Course
Whether it means knowing what to do at the boat launch or what to do when storm
clouds roll in out on the water, being prepared is always cool. Not to mention,
getting a fine never looks good. In Canada, and in most states in the U.S., you
need a boating safety certificate in order to legally operate a motorized vessel.
Taking a boating safety course leading to certification also prepares boaters for
a range of different situations, from routine maintenance to trailering to storm
preparedness.
There are many boating courses out there, but we’d like to toot our own horn as
one the best options. Our online course is convenient, engaging, approved by NASBLA
and recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard. We have also certified over 2 million boaters.
Not bad. Give our course
as a gift and help your favorite boater be prepared this year: BOATERexam.com®.
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