Esential gear to bring on a boating trip will vary depending on what kind of boat and activity is on the schedule. One person may never step aboard without a six pack of beer, while another wants full life support. However, some things are important enough to go on every type of excursion.
First a boating license is compulsory in Canada. Boats get wet. Wet boats are slippery. Every one on board should have real boating footwear. This does not mean tennis shoes, no matter how sporty. Modern boating shoes have carefully designed grips on the soles to make them non-slip even on smooth surfaces. For maintenance in marine climates, all boats are smooth and shiny, and are usually wet when moving, so this detail should not be overlooked.
Another safety precaution is using sun screen and reapplying it every few hours. Just wearing a hat is not enough to shield your face, since you may want to take it off to catch a cool breeze, or it may blow off; the sun's rays will bounce up off the water and all other reflective surfaces and reach you face even under a top shade. You may be out all through the midday hours, so select a high SPF in sunblocks and tanning creams. If you like natural protection, use diluted vitamin C in a spray bottle, take extra CoQ10, and use natural coconut oil on exposed skin.
What you wear will be a personal choice, as long as it is suited to the weather and the occasion. Rafting on white water will be chilly, since canyons may block the sun and the water is always cold. Wet suits can really help on mountain waters or anywhere in the fall and winter. Of course, cool clothes or bathing suits will be fine on a cruise or leisurely sail.
Boaters have learned from experience, however, that the sun doesn't always shine, so foul weather gear should be stowed somewhere on every vessel. Rain squalls on deep water and thunderstorms over the creeks and rivers can make you wet and cold in seconds. Waterproof gear can be simply a bright yellow shell or a fully lined rain suit, suitable for frostbite sailing and dedicated all-year fishermen.
For safety, you will want to have on hand a floating flashlight, a way to contact the shore or the folks that stayed on land, a first aid kit with band-aids (great for blisters, if for nothing more serious), lots of water for keeping hydrated, food because raw fish gets old fast, and polarized sunglasses. Sunlight is intensified on the water, so give your eyes the protection they need. Lip balm may also be very welcome after a while.
The list of other things that may be needed is long. Gloves might be a good idea if your hands are not hardened to a paddle or a fishing line. A personal flotation device of your own will undoubtedly fit better than one out of the locker. A strap to keep your glasses securely attached will be great if you lean too far over the side or happen to fall in. A portable, hook-on ladder will allow you to get back in the boat if you decide to jump overboard to cool off. Fishing tackle, a good book, a way to contact shore in emergencies, a radio for music and the weather report, towels, and even good friends can all be on the essential list.
Esential gear to bring on a boating trip is what you make it, once safety regulations are fulfilled and common sense appeased. Close your eyes and imagine being cut off from land, and see what you are going to miss. - 39815
First a boating license is compulsory in Canada. Boats get wet. Wet boats are slippery. Every one on board should have real boating footwear. This does not mean tennis shoes, no matter how sporty. Modern boating shoes have carefully designed grips on the soles to make them non-slip even on smooth surfaces. For maintenance in marine climates, all boats are smooth and shiny, and are usually wet when moving, so this detail should not be overlooked.
Another safety precaution is using sun screen and reapplying it every few hours. Just wearing a hat is not enough to shield your face, since you may want to take it off to catch a cool breeze, or it may blow off; the sun's rays will bounce up off the water and all other reflective surfaces and reach you face even under a top shade. You may be out all through the midday hours, so select a high SPF in sunblocks and tanning creams. If you like natural protection, use diluted vitamin C in a spray bottle, take extra CoQ10, and use natural coconut oil on exposed skin.
What you wear will be a personal choice, as long as it is suited to the weather and the occasion. Rafting on white water will be chilly, since canyons may block the sun and the water is always cold. Wet suits can really help on mountain waters or anywhere in the fall and winter. Of course, cool clothes or bathing suits will be fine on a cruise or leisurely sail.
Boaters have learned from experience, however, that the sun doesn't always shine, so foul weather gear should be stowed somewhere on every vessel. Rain squalls on deep water and thunderstorms over the creeks and rivers can make you wet and cold in seconds. Waterproof gear can be simply a bright yellow shell or a fully lined rain suit, suitable for frostbite sailing and dedicated all-year fishermen.
For safety, you will want to have on hand a floating flashlight, a way to contact the shore or the folks that stayed on land, a first aid kit with band-aids (great for blisters, if for nothing more serious), lots of water for keeping hydrated, food because raw fish gets old fast, and polarized sunglasses. Sunlight is intensified on the water, so give your eyes the protection they need. Lip balm may also be very welcome after a while.
The list of other things that may be needed is long. Gloves might be a good idea if your hands are not hardened to a paddle or a fishing line. A personal flotation device of your own will undoubtedly fit better than one out of the locker. A strap to keep your glasses securely attached will be great if you lean too far over the side or happen to fall in. A portable, hook-on ladder will allow you to get back in the boat if you decide to jump overboard to cool off. Fishing tackle, a good book, a way to contact shore in emergencies, a radio for music and the weather report, towels, and even good friends can all be on the essential list.
Esential gear to bring on a boating trip is what you make it, once safety regulations are fulfilled and common sense appeased. Close your eyes and imagine being cut off from land, and see what you are going to miss. - 39815
About the Author:
Taking the boat on Lake Ontario this weekend? Don't get caught without an boating exam. Take time today to sit a boat test. You can take the test online and have a pleasure craft operator card.
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