Boaters rejoice! The weather is finally starting to warm up, and so is the water! With boating season right around the corner, many enthusiastic boaters will already be starting to get their boats ready for the season. Are you familiar with all of the tools available to get your summer planned and going?
We’re so lucky to have such an incredible waterway to explore, but it’s important to remember to be safe and prepared. Luckily, boaters in our region have many different resources to turn to for planning and preparation. Here are some of the things to remember and check out before hitting the water.
Plan Ahead
Make the most of your summer by knowing in advance what you’d like to do! Not sure what all there is to see? Boating Ontario has a great list of destinations accessible by water to explore across the province.
If you don’t own a boat or are looking for more of a planner, Ontario Travel also has a great tour planner which includes listings for boat tours and rental locations across the province. Tour the 1000 Islands, trek the Trent-Severn by houseboat or see the Muskoka’s from the Gravenhurst Steamboats; there is plenty to do and see!
Get Your Licence
Anyone who operates or plans to operate a watercraft within Canada must have a pleasure craft operator card. For those less familiar, the process for obtaining this licence is straightforward and can be completed from the comfort of your home online. Many different services provide certified courses to help you obtain your licence.
Refresh Your Knowledge Of The Buoy System
If you’ve recently taken the boating exam then you may be able to skip this step. The length and complexity of the Trent-Severn waterway and many other bodies of water in our region use a standard buoy system to mark hazards and provide important navigation information. As a boater it’s important to understand what each buoy means in order to react appropriately and safely. Transport Canada maintains a good overview of buoy types for review.
Make Sure Your Watercraft Is Fitted With The Mandatory Safety Gear
The laws here require boaters to have a certain list of safety gear on-board at all times. There are steep penalties for boaters who do not have this safety equipment on hand. The required list of items varies depending on the size and nature of the boat, but for boats that are up to 6m in length, required on-board equipment includes:
- Life-jacket for each person on-board
- Re-boarding device or ladder
- Hand-bailer or manual pump
- Sound signaling device
- Navigation lights (at night only)
- Magnetic compass (when out of sight from navigation marks)
- Radar reflector
- Class 5BC fire extinguisher
- 15m buoyant heaving line
- Watertight flashlight or flares (motorized only)
- Manual propelling device OR anchor with 15m of rope
A complete list of required on-board items for different sized watercraft can be found here.
Be Safe & Have Fun
The team at Alliston Self Storage wish you a happy and safe 2019 boating season! If you’re looking for a reliable self-storage unit to safely store your boating equipment during the off-season, give us a call to learn more about our convenient, secure and easy to access facility.
Talk to us today to learn more!