Commander Bob's Boating Safety Tips

Ah, Spring! Pollen fills the air, and boats of all sizes and shapes begin to settle into their thawed berths, awaiting the attention they’ve been missing all winter.
For the new boat owner, it’s finally time to fill the lungs with the smell of that new fiberglass hull, fresh from the factory. The new boat’s adoptive family is feeling good about completing the Power Squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary boating safety...

All shore power cords should be rated suitable for Marine Use, or better still, “UL-Marine” listed for marine shore power applications.
Never use ordinary “outdoor use” extension cords to provide electrical shore power to the boat or any equipment, such as a battery charger on board the boat....

Become familiar with the handling characteristics of your boat. Most motorboats don’t steer very well when they lose power, and current and wind can make it even more difficult. So try and keep “way on” and your boat in motion when maneuvering in tight...

A Commander Bob viewer once wrote to me with a question that confirmed my contention that more attention should be paid to the subject of boating safety for children. The viewer asked whether or not their infant should be strapped into a car seat during...