One of the biggest – and perhaps most important – decisions that you will make with regard to your boat is to obtain a comprehensive insurance policy. Since several mega storms have occurred in the past few years, insurance costs have gone up. It is important to have a good idea about what type of boat insurance you need and what the cost will be. Whether you need private boat insurance or commercial boat insurance, protecting your investment should be your first priority, especially with all the storms that have been damaging boats in the past few years. Insurance companies like the ones that Global Marine Insurance represents offer a variety of boat insurance plans.

Learn from the mistakes of others and be safe when on the water this winter season. Wear a life jacket as insurance against the elements the whole time if you’re out fishing, hunting or recreationally on a boat, canoe or kayak. When you’re shopping for a life jacket, ask about brands or models that are designed for use in cold water. There are life jackets available that are meant to help with cold-water survival, offering extra insulation to guard against hypothermia.

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) noticed something seasonal when they looked at boating accident statistics: More fatalities occurred to boaters without life jackets from November through to April. Obviously the body’s response to being suddenly immersed in cold water causes more fatalities from drowning in the winter months, with reportedly almost 80 percent of boating fatalities happening when boaters neglected to wear a life jacket.

The PFBC passed a new state regulation that requires all boaters to wear a life jacket from the beginning of November through to the end of April. The life-saving devices must be worn if the boater is on the water or at anchor on any boat less than 16 feet in length, including canoes or kayaks. They offer many tips on cold water survival and safety.

According to the US Coast Guard, the single most important thing boaters can do for safety is to wear a life jacket. It reports there were 758 boating fatalities in 2011, 533 of which resulted from drowning. Of those who drowned, 84 percent of the victims reportedly did not wear a life jacket. Wearing a life jacket does not guarantee to prevent drowning, but there are few drowning deaths reported that occur while wearing a life jacket. It acts as your insurance should anything go wrong. Why not improve the odds you will survive?

According to boating and survival experts our biological response to frigid water makes wearing a life jacket even more important in the winter. Winter waters are so cold the body’s first response is to gasp, inhaling water. Even if a victim manages to surface, their ability to swim is severely limited by shortness of breath or hyperventilation. A person not wearing a life jacket in this situation is at high risk of becoming yet another boating fatality statistic.

Skilled swimmers may believe they don’t need a life jacket, but anyone who has been hit in the head after a boat flips or knocked from a fast-moving vessel will tell you that accomplished swimmers don’t have a chance if they’re not conscious. Still scoff at the idea of wearing a life jacket?

Are you looking for a sunny and warm escape for you and your boat from the harsh cold winter? Then, you need to consider a subtropical or tropical winter boating vacation. Before traveling, you should check with your boat insurance company to ensure proper coverage in case your vessel sustains any damage during transit. Also, check your boat insurance policy for any winter lay-up periods that could result in a lack of coverage if you choose to navigate your boat in the winter months. Once you are prepared for travel with your boat, consider some of the following destinations.

Miami, Florida offers a visitor subtropical weather and a pleasant escape from winter blues with average high temperatures in the mid and upper 70s. On occasion, Miami does experience light freezes whereas Key West, Florida is the only frost-free city in the continental U.S. with a record low of only 41 degrees. During winter, Key West hosts temperature highs in the mid 70s and lows in the mid 60s. With little to zero risk of hurricanes or tropical storms in the winter and miles of sand, this destination is quite popular among winter boaters.

Known for possessing one of the world’s best climates, San Diego, California provides numerous boating options with average highs of 66 degrees and average lows of 50 degrees in the winter. For those seeking a warmer and drier atmosphere than the coastal region, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, and Rancho Mirage offer its visitors average highs in the 70s and low 80s. Part of the “Inland Empire”, this section of California contains 46 lakes for plenty of boating fun.

Phoenix, Arizona’s largest city cools down quite nicely in the winter so you can enjoy boating at Lake Pleasant with averages highs about 70 degrees and lows in the mid to high 40s. However, if you find that weather still a little too cool for your preference, you can travel southwest down to Yuma, Arizona where average winter highs range from 67 to 77 degrees. Here you can enjoy many boating activities along the Colorado River at the sunniest place on Earth, where the sun shines 94% of the year.

Regardless of where you take your family for a winter getaway, make sure your boat insurance coverage will be in full effect once you reach your vacation destination. You are not likely to experience any problems when traveling inside the United States, but it may pose a concern if you enter any international waters with your boat. Also, make sure you check the weather forecast before going on your boating vacation in case your intended destination experiences any rare cold temperatures and spoils your fun.

One of the most important things you can do for boating safety is ensure that every person on the craft has a lifejacket on while on the water. Buy lifejackets that fit properly and that are certified, taking note that there are special lifejackets for cold-water survival and lifejackets that are designed especially for infants and young children. If you have a pet consider a lifejacket for it as well because there have been many cases of families losing loved ones who attempt to rescue the family pet.

Have a plan for other boating emergencies, including what to do if someone falls overboard, if your boat starts to leak or if the boat capsizes. Never leave shore without a Float Plan whether you are on a short day trip or a long boating excursion.

Essential items to have on board include:

• Lifejackets for everyone
• First aid kit
• Flotation devices and life ring
• Flare gun

You need to be prepared and ensure your canoe, motorboat or pleasure craft is properly equipped. Don’t wait for disaster to find out what you’re missing.
Have an Emergency Drill

Experts talk about body memory and children as well as adults often cope better in an actual emergency if they have run through the process or plan before. Consider tipping a canoe with everyone in their lifejackets so they can experience being capsized. Talk about what to do – treading water, keeping their body warm in very cold water to guard against hypothermia, kicking off shoes if they drag them down – and practice. Plan for and practice different scenarios:

• What to do if one person falls overboard.
• What to do if you are a long way from shore or close enough to try to make it to shore.

 Practice What You Preach

Children learn what they observe. For example, if you tell them to wear lifejackets but you and the other adults never wear them, they will soon want to be like the adults and not wear them either. If you want children and teens to take boat safety seriously, you need to set the example.

Don’t think one lesson in boat safety is enough for children or teens of any age. Consider instead making safety a part of every boat trip, both in the pre-planning and on the journey. Involve children of all ages in the pre-trip planning as well as ensuring safety while on the water. Some ideas to make boating safety a way of life rather than a one-time occurrence include:

• Discuss safety as a family regularly. Ask younger children what they remember in a fun way, challenging them to help list ways to stay safe on the water. Find interesting news stories or television shows about boat safety to analyze with older children and teens.

• When you’re planning your next boating trip, talk through practical considerations as a family and ask for your children’s input. Get them to feel part of the process and make their contributions seem valuable to the safety of everyone on the boat.

• Consider taking a Red Cross first aid class and boating safety classes as a family.

• Create a family boat safety checklist. Get the children to help ensure all your safety items are on board and in good shape. Learning to plan and take inventory is invaluable.

• When you are on the water, ask the children to check to see if each person is safe. Young children delight in finding mistakes and being part of the solution. Have older children run through the family safety checklist to take inventory. Appoint older children to watch over younger ones, using the buddy system as an effective way to watch that everyone stays safe.

Preteens and teens, while able to understand and learn the finer points of boating safety, are often the ones you need to convince need to take precautions. This is the age group to dazzle with statistics about drowning deaths where victims were not wearing lifejackets. Get them to see why it is important and necessary, and then involve them in the planning. If they feel part of the process they are more likely to take ownership of their own safety.

Elementary school children are able to grasp additional details and often enjoy being asked for input. For example, ask them what kinds of things they think are important to bring on a boat trip and to write them down. Then take out a boating safety checklist and highlight the things that they didn’t include, asking them why they think those things would be important. Consider online boat safety games to help reinforce learning.

Preschoolers and primary students do not have a long attention span and quickly lose focus unless their learning is hands on. Be prepared to break concepts into simple messages that are age appropriate. For example, a 10-minute lecture on all the reasons to wear a personal floatation device complete with statistics will not keep little ones listening, but bringing out a lifejacket for them to touch and try on will. Tell them the lifejacket helps them float, helps search and rescue find them (get them to guess why the colors are so bright) and that even grownups should wear them. Coloring books let you work through different boat safety topics and you can review them during story time.

Teaching your kids boating safety could one day save their life and like good boat insurance will likely reduce your stress while on the water. Different children take danger and safety more seriously than others. Consider the personality, age and maturity of the children you will be teaching to help you best capture their attention and motivate their learning. The earlier you start teaching safety the more ingrained it will be in their thinking:

Leave your float plan with someone reliable and reachable.  Suggestions include one of the following:

• Marina
• Yacht Club
• Friend
• Family member

When you leave the float plan, instruct the person holding it to let the Coast Guard or other search and rescue agency know if you have not returned within a reasonable time after your expected return. This way, the appropriate authorities will know to look for you and every minute is valuable in a life-threatening emergency situation. Do not try to give your float plan to the Coast Guard because they will not accept them.
Keep in Touch

Sometimes plans change or the weather conditions force you to modify your boat trip plans. If circumstances or personal preferences change your float plan route or destination(s), let your contact person know as soon as possible. This will ensure that your float plan is accurate and your contact person is not left unnecessarily worrying. It also guards against involving search and rescue forces unnecessarily.

Now that you understand what a float plan is and how it works, make an effort to create and file one in preparation for your boating trips. Try taking the time to properly fill out a detail float plan with your boat details once and then just update it for each trip and leave it with a responsible person. This simple process will serve as insurance, just in case you find yourself in trouble.

A float plan is a simple document that outlines where you are going and when you expect to return. Some boaters heading out for a short excursion will simply let someone know their float plan verbally, but in the event of an emergency some people panic and forget details. Whether you’re heading out for a short day trip or longer cruise it is best to write a proper float plan. It should include:

• A description of your boat, including type, color, size, registration information
• A list of who is on board (names and ages, including infants)
• A brief overview of safety equipment you have at the ready
• An outline of your expected navigation route
• Your destination(s)
• A timeline of when you expect to be at your destination(s)
• When you expect to return

There are even several online float plan templates available for free, which make creating your float plan practically effortless. Once you have a float plan created it is even easier to modify it or change it as needed for your next boat trip.