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Safe boating starts before you leave home, with a check of the weather forecast. Local weather will do if you are not planning to go far - but if possible, check a source for marine weather to see what conditions are likely to be out on the water. US marine weather is available here ; Canadian here and British here. High winds, heavy rain, large waves, foggy conditions or storms do not make for comfortable boating.

If the weather is looking fine, and you are getting ready to go sailing, then it's time to make sure you have all the safety equipment you need with you. You must have a life-jacket for each person on board, of the right size and type - and out on the water it's better to have them on than in the bag, where they will be of little use if someone accidentally ends up in the water. We attach a whistle to each life jacket, in case the person overboard needs to attract attention to get help. A flotation cushion, ring or horseshoe buoy should be in easy reach in case in case someone does fall overboard without a life jacket; a floating line attached to one of these or to a weight can be used to pull them closer to the boat. For a full list of mandatory safety equipment, visit here. Canadian requirements can be found here.

Foul weather gear will keep off rain or keep you warm if conditions change. A first aid kit will help you deal with minor cuts and scrapes and should have enough equipment and supplies to help you keep someone who has had an accident or is ill comfortable until help arrives. An emergency blanket will help warm someone who becomes wet or cold. Extra snack supplies and drinking water are good to have in case your outing does not go quite as planned.

An electric bilge pump is a good piece of equipment to have on board, but every boat needs at least one manual bailer, in case water finding its way into the boat affects the electrical system. And a good anchor - useful for pulling a grounded boat off, or for holding it in place while waiting for help, as well as for stopping for lunch or a swim. Smaller boats should have oars on board for use when the wind drops or the outboard fails. A boat which has an engine or any kind of fuel on board should have at least one fire extinguisher for use in case of emergencies.

A sound making device on board - a horn, whistle or bell - will draw attention when you need it - if, in spite of checking the weather conditions you find yourself out in fog, for instance, or if you need to signal for help, or simply to let someone know that you are there. Other signalling devices you need to have on board include flares for daytime and nighttime use and a waterproof flashlight for nighttime signaling. In the daytime, a flashing mirror can be seen a long way off.

A VHF radio on board allows the boater to communicate with other boaters, receive information and ask for emergency help. There are specific rules and procedures to be followed when using the radio; they can be found here. A cellular phone on board may be used in an emergency, but it is a lot less reliable than a radio when you are on the water.

At an absolute minimum you must have charts of the area you are sailing in on board and know how to read them, so you can avoid dangerous areas. A GPS will tell you where you are and allow you to input courses and waypoints; some will show aids to navigation as well. If you find yourself in trouble you will be able to give your position to someone coming to your aid using the latitude and longitude shown on the GPS.

If you boat in tidal areas tide and current tables will allow you to make the best use of the tidal conditions, instead of finding yourself in a situation where you must work against a tidal flow or are caught by a falling tide.

At the dock, check your boat before setting out. Make sure that your engine, if you have one, is working and has enough fuel. Check your navigation lights, in case you are out past nightfall. Make sure that you have everything on board that you need, and turn on your radio, GPS and any other instruments you have on board to make sure they are working as they should. Ready and prepared? Then it's time to enjoy boating.

Learn more about this author, Margaret Mair.
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