10 first-time boating tips to remember this summer

First-time boaters © Boating Industry Association

As the popularity of boating continues to grow across Australia, the Boating Industry Australia Ltd (BIA) is providing valuable guidance to first-time boaters to help ensure a safe, enjoyable and memorable experience on the water this summer.

For those who have just bought a new boat, thinking about buying one for the first time, renting a boat or tagging along with friends, remember these 10 tips to ensure the adventure is remembered for the right reasons.

1. Keep It Safe. Boating is actually an incredibly low-risk activity but like anything, the fun stops abruptly if someone gets hurt. Pay attention as you take your boating safety or lean-to-sail course and spend some time perusing our Boating Safety Guide before you cast off. Download the Marine Rescue NSW app - available for free on both the App Store and Google Play - which allows people heading onto wide open waterways or offshore to log on with Marine Rescue NSW ensuring you have the protection of more than 3,000 highly trained volunteers ready to respond in an emergency situation. DECKEE is another free app and a great resource for trip preparation and planning to ensure a fun day on the water for everyone.
2. Decide What Activities You Want to Try. Boating offers something for everyone —check out 10 Fun Things to Do on a Boat, and think about which sorts of activities are the best fit for you, along with your friends and family. When you've decided on a plan of action, make a list of any boating accessories you may need to be fully prepared for your time on the water whether that be paddling, fishing and cruising, or more action-orientated activities like tow-sports, PWC riding and sailboat racing.
3. Check the Weather. Pick your weather carefully. Although we'd all like to go boating each and every time the schedule allows, it is an activity that Mother Nature has a big impact on. If a stiff breeze or thunderstorms are in the forecast, it's best to keep your powder dry and wait for a better window of opportunity. Check the weather via the Bureau of Meteorology and download the app DECKEE first.
4. Remember to "Walk Before You Run". Ease into the boating lifestyle with short trips that don't take you too far afield. You don't need to start off with a long-distance cruise or an overnight boating adventure right off the bat. Build up to bigger trips by starting with smaller, shorter ones that help build confidence. You'll quickly figure out what provisions and gear are best to keep on hand, how to respond to different situations that may arise out on the water, and how long the crew enjoys different activities before a change of pace is due. As any parent can probably guess, this is particularly important if you have kids.
5. Lifejackets for Everyone! Pick out lifejackets that are comfortable and appropriate for your activity, not because they're the cheapest option available. Again, this is particularly important if you have kids. Ill-fitting or poorly designed lifejackets will grow less and less comfortable as the day wears on, and there are so many types and choices these days that it's quite easy to find a comfy lifejacket for anyone of almost any size or age.
6. Plan Ahead: Use a Pre-Departure Checklist. Schedule some extra time both before and after the trip. When you're trying something new you don't want to be rushed and there will be some set-up time needed to stow the gear, prep the boat for launch, and go through your pre-departure checklist. When you return to shore, anchorage or berth, you'll want to allow extra time for securing the boat, cleaning it up and washing it down. Keep this in mind as you decide when to start your trip and when you end it, so you don't end up under any pressure to hurry.
7. Slow Down for Waves. This may sound a bit simplistic but the truth of the matter is that after hopping over a few small waves, most new boaters leave the throttle open for larger and larger ones—right up until they hit the one so big that it hurts. Remember that wave impacts are often worse for the passengers than they are for the skipper, who is more likely to see the wave coming and be prepared for the impact. So if you're running the boat and you feel a thump, other people aboard may have felt a slam or a bang. The solution is quite simple: pull back on the throttle, before the boat hits waves.
8. Learn How to Adjust the Trim. When you get your boat up and running, play with the trim a bit to find the boat's "sweet spot." Trimming will change how the hull meets the waves, can affect speed and maneuverability, and can make the ride a lot more (or less) comfortable. Every boat responds a bit differently to trim, so the only way to find that sweet spot is to try changing trim in small increments and seeing how your boat reacts.
9. Get the Whole Crew Involved. Give kids and crew members jobs. One of the best things about boating, particularly as a family, is that it naturally engenders teamwork. But this only happens when the captain gives everyone aboard the opportunity to lend a hand. Even the youngest crew members can participate if you give them a simple task like helping you watch for flotsam as you cruise. There are plenty of ways to get everyone involved.
10. Have Fun - and Don't Forget to Wave! Have fun and don't forget to wave as you pass your fellow lovers of boats. Whether you know it or not, you've just joined a new family -the family of boaters. We all share one thing in common and that's our passion for boats and boating. So, when we see another boat out on the water - any boat - we wave to each other. It's part of boating etiquette, part of the lifestyle and part of why we all have such a great time out on the water. Get ready to enjoy it.