Boating can be loads of fun, but you’re also faced with risks that can be horrifyingly scary and even life-threatening. Sometimes when you hear emergencies at sea, you see victims out in the water and a boat that has been capsized. Unfortunately, capsizing accidents can lead to drowning incidents and loss of goods.

However, don’t let this deadly risk discourage you from boating out in the open waters. This incident can be avoided if one takes precautions on operating a boat and avoids causes that may result in capsizing.

What does a capsized boat mean?

A capsize is defined as a boat rolling over onto its side or completely over because of instability. This causes boats to sink under the water. The main reasons why boats get unstable are because there is an imbalance in the weight of the boat due to overloading, leaking water that gets inside the boat, and turbulent weather.

What boats are most likely to capsize and why?

The majority of capsizes are smaller boats. About 10 percent of them are dinghies such as tinny boats or canoes. Even though they are inherently stable, they can still capsize easily when there is imbalanced weight distribution on board or due to extreme bad weather. However, they are easy to flip them up in their proper position.

Around 40 percent of small boats that capsize have a length of around 15 to 19 feet. Some examples of these are fishing boats that have cockpits that are hard to drain.  Even boats that are in the 20+ foot range can capsize as well.

What causes a boat to capsize?

Poor Weight Distribution: Boats tend to capsize if the weight on board is distributed unevenly. If there are more passengers or cargo loads placed on one side of the boat compared to the other side, it causes imbalance. If the boat also exceeds its weight limit, it loses its stability, and its draft will increase. This can increase the chances of capsizing even in calm waters. All it takes is a large gust of wind to blow the waters over for the boat to roll on its side.

Human Error: Sometimes carelessness can cause unfortunate incidents even in operating a boat. If you disregard operating your boat safely or fail to maintain your boat regularly, your recklessness will cause this unfortunate event.

Leaks: Another major cause of the capsizing is due to leaks. Leaks can cause water to get inside the boat which affects the boat’s stability. The water inside the boat increases its weight making it sink into the water. Leaks are caused by a lot of factors; it may be due to a damaged hull, forgetting to put in the drain plug in the boat, or excess water accumulating in the stern.

Inclement Weather: Storms at sea can cause damage to boats, especially if it’s not sea-worthy enough to challenge through rough waves and strong winds. Strong winds can flip a boat at sea like a paper doll causing it to capsize and sink into the ocean.

How to prevent capsizing

Avoid overloading your aluminium boat. Make sure to balance the distribution of your passengers and your gear. You need to take note of the maximum weight your boat can carry. For small boats, keep the overall weight low and should never reach its maximum capacity. Move on the boat’s centre line to balance your boat.

Direct your passengers to areas where they can safely sit that won’t upset your boat’s equilibrium.

If you can, purchase equipment to drain the water from your boat such as a bilge pump. If you have extra cash stashed in your bank account, you can purchase a boat with a self-draining deck.

Turn at controlled speeds especially if you’re operating a small boat. Just like driving a car, speeding can cause you to lose control over your vessel and it’ll be harder to maneuver at a high speed.

When anchoring, always keep in mind to secure the anchor line to your boat’s bow, not the stern.

Always wear a life jacket on board, especially if the water conditions seem rough. If it can be avoided, don’t sail out when the waves are rough or if there is bad weather. Always look at your local forecast to know what weather the day will have to know if it’s safe to sail out.