{"id":9041,"date":"2014-05-27T11:48:00","date_gmt":"2014-05-27T11:48:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/301webdemo.com\/oegema\/?p=9041"},"modified":"2026-02-06T05:12:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T05:12:32","slug":"boating-safety-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/blog\/boating-safety-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Boating Safety Tips for a Super Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Getting out on one of Ontario\u2019s thousands of bodies of water is one of the best parts of the summer. There\u2019s no doubt that boating is one of the highlights of the year for many people. But whether it\u2019s a speedboat, a cruising pontoon, a sailboat, a canoe or a kayak, staying safe is the most important thing. There are preventable boating accidents every year, which is truly unfortunate as the basic principles of boating safety are really simple and easy to follow through on. With that in mind, here are some very basic tips to ensure that the fun lasts all summer, and you, your friends, and your loved ones remain safe. \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Lifejackets Should Be Worn by All, At All Times:<\/h2>

It simply doesn\u2019t matter how safe the situation seems, or how good of a swimmer you are (and truth be told, most people overestimate their own swimming ability.) Without fail, every summer, there are drowning deaths from people of all ages, that could be easily prevented by wearing lifejackets or personal flotation devices. Cold water can seriously inhibit your ability to move your muscles in only a couple of minutes or less. Just don\u2019t take chances. \u00a0<\/p>

Alcohol & Boating: Always a no-no.<\/h2>

You wouldn\u2019t get behind the wheel of your car when you\u2019re intoxicated, but for some reason, some people just don\u2019t get the same message in regards to boating. Alcohol impairs your judgment and destroys your ability to safely pilot a boat. And when drinking alcohol, you\u2019re more affected by things such as the sun, vibration and noise. Finally, should the worst happen, it negatively affects your swimming ability. As a boat operator, you are responsible for your own safety, and the safety of others on board \u2013 and that responsibility should be treated with the utmost respect. \u00a0<\/p>

Get Your P.C.O.C. (license):<\/h2>

In Ontario (and throughout Canada), you must have a\u00a0Pleasure Craft Operator\u2019s Card<\/a>\u00a0in order to operate a powered boat of any size or horsepower. It\u2019s simple to study for and not having it could mean a $250 fine if you\u2019re caught piloting a boat without it. Several organizations offer boating safety courses, either in-person, online or via correspondence. These courses (and the test) cover basic boating safety, as well as things like nautical terms, buoy systems, right-of-way, etc. There\u2019s really no excuse for not getting a license, and nobody should operate a boat in Canada without one. \u00a0<\/p>

Plan Ahead:<\/h2>

Check on local weather forecasts and for any advisories before heading out on the water. The weather can turn quickly and it\u2019s extremely hazardous to be out on the water during a rainstorm, particularly if there is lightning in the area. Always let someone on shore know where you are going and how long you plan to be out for. \u00a0<\/p>

Have Other Safety Equipment On Board:<\/h2>

Some standard safety and emergency gear that every boat should have on board includes a fire extinguisher (for motor boats), a map (if applicable), flares, a first-aid kit, and a cell phone. These should be kept in a floating pouch so that they will be reachable and usable in the event of capsizing. \u00a0 Planning on getting out on the water this summer? Make sure your boat is insured! Talk to Oegema Nicholson about options for\u00a0boat and watercraft insurance<\/a>, or get a free quote online. \u00a0 Have a safe and happy summer on the lake!<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Getting out on one of Ontario\u2019s thousands of bodies of water is one of the best parts of the summer. There\u2019s no doubt that boating is one of the highlights of the year for many people.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":9043,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[105,106,107,109],"class_list":["post-9041","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-personal-safety-tips","tag-boat-insurance","tag-boat-insurance-ottawa","tag-boating-safety","tag-p-c-o-c"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9041"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9041\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9048,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9041\/revisions\/9048"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9041"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}